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https://theconversation.com/we-know-social-media-bans-are-unlikely-to-work-so-how-can-we-keep-young-people-safe-online-232594>
"A war has erupted around young people’s use social media and it is messy. In
the United States, surgeon general Vivek Murthy has recommended cigarette
packet-like warnings for platforms like Instagram to remind teens and parents
social media “has not proved safe”.
In Australia, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he would ban social media for
those under 16 within 100 days, if the Coalition wins the next election.
Announcing the policy, Dutton argued social media is to blame for “a high
prevalence of many health conditions, issues around body image [and] bullying
online”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also backs a ban “if it can be effective”.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Jason Clare describes social media as a
“cesspit”.
Technology experts have already noted legal bans and age verification is very
hard to enforce.
But we also need to view this from an a digital literacy perspective. A social
media ban only delays young people’s exposure to these platforms, it does not
help them to manage or learn anything. When they eventually start using these
platforms, the same algorithms will still be at work, shaping their perceptions
and behaviours.
If we want to keep children safe online, we need to approach this differently."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
