Age Limit on Social Media: Protecting Our Children

The Unprotected Generation: Social Media and Child Safety

Considering the established legal frameworks designed to protect children throughout history, it’s perplexing that comparable safeguards aren’t being implemented to shield them from the documented risks associated with social media platforms. A similar approach to age restrictions and protective measures, as applied in numerous other areas, is urgently needed for technology and internet usage.

Established Protections for Youth

Consider the restrictions already in place. Young individuals are prohibited from driving, consuming alcohol, smoking, entering into marriage, enlisting in the military, obtaining tattoos, or exercising their right to vote until deemed sufficiently mature.

However, incredibly potent technologies are readily accessible to 13-year-olds, and the resulting consequences are often met with astonishment. This includes a marked increase in instances of online harassment, issues related to body image, and a surge in self-harm and suicidal ideation.

A Decade of Unintentional Experimentation

Many parents are now facing a disturbing realization. Over the past decade, their children have, in effect, been subjected to an experiment orchestrated by technology companies. The primary focus has been on “maximizing engagement” to boost profits, with minimal consideration given to the potential harm.

A degree of complacency existed among parents, fueled by their own enthusiasm for technology. Providing children with phones was often seen as a positive step, without fully appreciating the potential damage to their self-esteem and overall development. Initial interactions, like a simple emoji text, seemed harmless.

However, this quickly escalated to hundreds, and then thousands, of messages daily.

The Addictive Nature of Technology

It’s important to acknowledge our own habits. Try consciously setting aside your phone. Attempt to resist the urge to check it. How long can you maintain this resistance? The duration is likely to be short.

Most adults are, to some extent, reliant on technology, possessing the self-discipline and ability to delay gratification instilled by their upbringing. Imagine the challenge faced by a 16-year-old whose entire life has revolved around instant gratification.

Visible Consequences

Is it any wonder that children appear fatigued in the mornings, following nights spent on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and countless other applications unfamiliar to their parents? This pattern extends to their academic lives, where screen time continues to dominate.

The need for responsible technology use and robust protections for young people is paramount.

Establishing Responsible Digital Access

Implementing an age restriction – a suggested minimum of 18 years for smartphone and social media use – represents a crucial first step in recalibrating our interaction with technology for the better. Similar to how young individuals are educated about operating a vehicle through lessons, coursework, a driver’s manual, and a practical examination, comprehensive instruction is needed regarding responsible social media engagement.

Consider the introduction of a “social media usage license,” necessitating successful completion of an assessment. This license could be subject to revocation should users violate established guidelines for navigating the “information superhighway.”

A common viewpoint suggests that social media’s current ubiquity renders any attempt at control futile. However, we contend this is inaccurate. A passive acceptance of the present situation is, in our view, ethically unacceptable. It’s important to recall that inaction by good people allows harmful forces to gain strength.

History demonstrates our capacity to establish regulations governing the safe utilization of potent technologies. This has been successfully achieved with automobiles, radiography, and nuclear power – essentially, all technologies possessing both beneficial and potentially detrimental applications. What distinguishes social media in this regard?

In fact, legislative efforts are already underway in several nations. The United Kingdom, for instance, has recently proposed legislation that could impose fines, or even lead to the closure of, social media platforms failing to adequately safeguard children from online risks.

Concerns are often raised regarding the practical enforceability of age restrictions. However, enforcement is entirely feasible. Biometric security systems, now standard on smartphones – including fingerprint and facial recognition – coupled with the algorithms that personalize content for billions of daily users, provide viable technical solutions.

The primary obstacle is not a lack of means, but rather a deficiency of resolve. Once the commitment is made, the necessary methods will inevitably follow.

The Potential for Social Media to Cause Harm

Our intention isn't to advocate for a prohibition of social media platforms. When utilized with care, these platforms offer significant benefits. Social media has proven particularly valuable during recent global health crises, serving as a crucial tool in combating feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Consider how much more challenging periods of lockdown and quarantine would have been without the ability to maintain connections through digital means. We experienced a unique paradox: increased physical separation coupled with unprecedented digital interconnectedness.

However, the scale and influence of social media have expanded to a degree where continued complacency is no longer justifiable. It is now necessary to acknowledge the awareness shared by creators, corporate executives, and users – including ourselves – regarding the consequences of our actions.

Specifically, we must recognize the potential impact on the developing minds of children.

A common counterargument suggests that any age restrictions would be circumvented by resourceful children. This is undeniably true; some young people will inevitably access platforms regardless of rules, similar to underage engagement in prohibited activities like drinking or smoking.

However, the possibility of lawbreaking does not invalidate the need for laws themselves. Accepting this logic would lead to societal chaos. The fact that laws aren't perfectly obeyed is not a justification for their repeal.

Young individuals often lack the emotional and cognitive maturity to navigate the constant stream of potentially damaging content found on social media. This includes exposure to fear of missing out (FOMO), reckless behavior, online harassment, and inappropriate material.

Substantial evidence documents the detrimental effects of social media on children, readily available for those willing to examine it. Jean Twenge’s “iGen” provides a comprehensive analysis of these issues.

Protecting children is a fundamental parental responsibility. Therefore, proactive measures, such as establishing age limits, are essential to shield them from the negative aspects of social media until they possess the maturity to make informed decisions.