Protecting Our Kids in the Age of Social Media by DIANA GRABER The iPhone just turned 15. In human years it’s a mere few notches last year when Facebook whistleblower Frances teenager, and much like a teenager, it has completely disrupted Haugen leaked internal documents that showed Facebook knew life as we knew it. its products, specifically Instagram, could cause harm, including In the decade and a half since the arrival of the iPhone, negatively impacting the mental health of teens. and all the other connected devices that proceeded it by just a But, this too, is not the complete story. According to few years, a whole generation has entered adulthood. These Facebook (now Meta), on eleven of twelve well-being issues guinea pigs of the connected age experienced an adolescence they researched, teenage girls who said they struggled with completely unlike any generation before them. They socialized difficult issues also said that Instagram made them feel better online, where their conversations rather than worse. were asynchronous and devoid of Therein lies the rub. Viewing social cues. Everything they posted social media as harmful overlooks got saved for posterity, for everyone how helpful it can be too. It also to see. Algorithms determined what ignores the fact that every teen is they consumed, and their social status different and how and what they use was quantified by likes, friend, and social media for varies significantly – follower counts. Many felt pressured as does the agency they exert over it. to be “on” 24/7. For example, at one extreme What impact did this “new end of the spectrum there’s the adolescence” have upon the wellbeing eighteen-year-old gunman accused of of today’s young adults? And, more killing eighteen people at a Buffalo importantly, what about the current supermarket. He was reportedly crop of kids enjoying new apps with “radicalized by consuming whiteDiana Graber even stealthier algorithms (looking at supremist content online” while you TikTok)? Well, that’s the millionalone and bored during the pandemic, Researchers have been dollar question. gravitating from outdoor and gun Currently there is a mental health hunting for a direct forums to the white-supremacist sites crisis amongst America’s youth which that inspired his rampage. At the other correlation between many place squarely on the shoulders end of the spectrum, you’ll find TikTok depression and social of technology in general, and social influencer Abbey Richards whose media in particular. It’s an easy enough media use for years, viral videos about misinformation correlation to make. According to the educate viewers (mostly kids) about with mixed results. CDC, the share of American high this important topic, a job adults have school students who “experienced largely dropped the ball on. persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 to Still, one youth harmed by social media is one too many. 44 percent between 2009 and 2019. This increase neatly parallels And it’s abundantly clear that some changes must be made to a similar rise in their screen time and social media use. safeguard the wellbeing of future generations. But blaming social media for teen depression is reductive, Over 100 bills have been introduced by state legislatures and somewhat unfair. Researchers have been hunting for a direct in just the past year aimed at regulating tech companies. For correlation between depression and social media use for years, example, in my state, California, Assembly Bill 2408, the with mixed results. Dr. Jeff Hancock, a behavioral psychologist Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, would make social media at Stanford University who has conducted a meta-analysis of companies liable for damages of up to $250,000 per violation 226 such studies, recently told The New York Times, “There’s for using features they know can cause children to become been absolutely hundreds of studies, almost all showing pretty “addicted” (my quotes). Many other states are working to pass small effects.” similar legislation. But, according to Politico, in the last year Still, concern remains. This concern got ratcheted up a “only three bills have become law.” RIPON FORUM August 2022
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