Absolutely agree that social media companies need to be held accountable and be regulated in a myriad of ways and that age restrictions may not be a way to do it. However, I would argue that maybe none of us actually need social media to the degree we have become dependent on it. I’ve been using social media since the dawn of it, in my early 20s. I’m now in my early 40s and deleted Facebook and Instagram from my phone after the election to preserve my mental health and I’m not sure when or if I will go back. Even as an adult who has seen social media through its many iterations, used it as a tool for work and to connect with people I know in real life and not, I did not feel I had a healthy relationship with it. As much as I know I could talk to my tween about using it safely and direct her to resources and education, I do not know that I could protect her from having an unhealthy relationship with it due to the way that these apps are built to work on our brains. I’m not sure these apps would be able to continue to exist or need to exist if they were actually changed in the fundamental ways that they need to. Since I exited social media, I’ve read more, connected in real life more and been more productive in my work and life as a whole. I’m just not sure social media in its current state is a place any of us should be.
I hear you...and I've also curtailed my own relationship with certain apps, and taken breaks from others. I just don't think banning under 16s is the way to go. But I'd love to see less manipulative design, more privacy and also communities where it is easy for young people and all of us to connect in person, safely in public spaces. I want it all!
Absolutely agree that social media companies need to be held accountable and be regulated in a myriad of ways and that age restrictions may not be a way to do it. However, I would argue that maybe none of us actually need social media to the degree we have become dependent on it. I’ve been using social media since the dawn of it, in my early 20s. I’m now in my early 40s and deleted Facebook and Instagram from my phone after the election to preserve my mental health and I’m not sure when or if I will go back. Even as an adult who has seen social media through its many iterations, used it as a tool for work and to connect with people I know in real life and not, I did not feel I had a healthy relationship with it. As much as I know I could talk to my tween about using it safely and direct her to resources and education, I do not know that I could protect her from having an unhealthy relationship with it due to the way that these apps are built to work on our brains. I’m not sure these apps would be able to continue to exist or need to exist if they were actually changed in the fundamental ways that they need to. Since I exited social media, I’ve read more, connected in real life more and been more productive in my work and life as a whole. I’m just not sure social media in its current state is a place any of us should be.
I hear you...and I've also curtailed my own relationship with certain apps, and taken breaks from others. I just don't think banning under 16s is the way to go. But I'd love to see less manipulative design, more privacy and also communities where it is easy for young people and all of us to connect in person, safely in public spaces. I want it all!
So insightful!
Outstanding points, I loved the article!