Governments put warnings on cigarettes and alcohol because those thing can cause physical harm.
Social media can lower young people's self-worth and put expose them to bullying that can make them suicidal.
Why do we not insist that out governments tackle this in the same way? Do we even think about protecting our young people in this way?
Social media, when used by young people, should warn them of the potential harms, and help equip them with the tools they need to stay emotionally healthy.
Governments could insist that social media companies that serve minors monitor the mental health of their users. They could be required to take action to protect young people's wellbeing. If they failed to show positive results they could be penalized, or forced to sell that part of the business to someone who does actually care about young people's health — perhaps a non-profit.
We have been conditioned to think it's okay that private companies can destroy our children's health.
I have never heard a "liberal" politician say anything like this. Even the so-called left has bought into the idea that having free markets means that we're not allowed to protect our children from predators. That's what social media companies are. They prey on our children.
TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale
"Company insiders were aware of multiple widespread and serious harms, and ... were often acting under the orders of company leadership to maximize engagement regardless of the harm..."
"Instagram actively helping spread of self-harm among teenagers, study finds."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8epyx0y1zdo
There was a recent story about a social media company looking for signs of low-esteem in girls and targeting them on that basis. Know the source?
Anyone who claims fhey are committed to safeguarding children while still using Meta platforms, tiktok et al is clearly lying and not fit to be around children.
Meta only care about profits, and the rest of us have to pay the price.
