Florida considering ban: That’s how harmful social media is to young people

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

If meta boss Mark Zuckerberg (39) has to appear in person in Washington (USA), then things are serious: he and the CEOs of other social media platforms will have to testify before a Senate committee on Wednesday about their measures to protect minors.

At the same time, the US state of Florida recently introduced a bill that would completely ban young people under the age of 16 from accessing social media. The law could come into force in the summer.

Artificial intelligence blurs the boundaries of reality

Not only in the USA but also in Switzerland, experts are concerned about the effects of social media on the psyche of children and young people. “Many young people experience stress because they are afraid of missing out if they are not online,” explains Lulzana Musliu from Pro Juventute. “Nine out of ten girls are unhappy with their bodies. “This is also because they compare themselves heavily to others on social media.”

Cyberbullying and consumption of problematic content (such as violence or pornography) are also risks. The platforms’ algorithms only make things worse. After consuming disruptive content, teens get caught in a vortex: They are shown more and more relevant content. Vicious circle.

All of this affects adults too; However, children and teenagers are more vulnerable because they have difficulty distinguishing between reality and virtually created fiction. Artificial intelligence makes this distinction even more difficult.

Shop with like-minded people

A legal ban on youth-oriented platforms will be difficult to enforce. Domenic Schnoz (48), head of the center for gambling addiction and other behavioral addictions at the Swiss Health Foundation Radix, says that many platforms already have age restrictions that can be easily exceeded. “Every primary school student can create an account. All you have to do is give the wrong date of birth.”

Experts advocate prevention instead of bans. For example, Pro Juventute offers media skills training for school classes. “We must support children in learning to use social media in a healthy way, just as they learn to count and write,” explains Musliu. Because whether it is banned or not: “Social media does not just disappear, it is right in the middle of young people’s daily lives.”

And social media presents not only risks but also many opportunities for children and young people. «If you grow up in a small village, you may not find people who think like you. There are whole communities on social media where you can exchange ideas,” explains Schnoz. Social media also allows young people to have fun and play, as well as unleash their creativity.

Mark Zuckerberg and Co. are likely to insist on this issue at the hearing in Washington. Tech companies are known to care little to nothing about the mental health of their users and are more interested in their own profits. Even easily circumvented additional laws regarding social media bans will not change this.

Source :Blick