Social-media apps are killing our kids. Do adults care?

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PUBLIC DEFENDER By Brian Livingston Rates of suicide and self-harm among teens and preteens in the US and other countries have doubled, tripled, and e
[See the full post at: Social-media apps are killing our kids. Do adults care?]

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Thank you for addressing this insidious topic. For anyone not earning their millions from social media, this problem is of huge concern. All manner of data from multiple directions points to its debilitating effects on this country’s youth. It has long been recognized that cognitive function and decision making skills are not fully developed before one’s 20s and these kids are babes in the cyber woods.  Recently a news item revealed that kids spend an average of 5 hours per day looking at their phones.

So we see an epidemic of self-loathing, leading to poorly-considered sex changes, even suicide, floating in a swamp of general dissatisfaction nourished by “influencers,” some of whom are compensated for their efforts, in the name of marketing. This phenomenon is so entrenched that our elected officials dare not intervene at the cost of losing their seats.

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Gingermum, Mr. Austin, Tom in Az, samak, windbg, Cybertooth, Steve S., WSjgschroeder2, WSbobby-p, Paul, Toa Of Justice

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If this is true then why all the resistance against banning TikTok?

Seems to me US society wants to have it’s cake and eat it too.  I guess not enough teenagers are committing suicide, yet.

I would start by passing laws prohibiting preinstalling this social media crap on new smartphones.  Apple is nowhere near as bad as Android on this.  If somebody wants that bloatware that bad enough, then they can go out and get it themselves.  No need to signal a condoning of it’s use by having it so readily available.

 

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Hi Brian:

Thanks for raising this important issue.

I live in Canada and your article is especially timely since our federal government recently introduced legislation to try to address this problem. From the Proposed Bill to Address Online Harms on the Government of Canada website:

“On February 26, 2024, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-63 to create a new Online Harms Act — a baseline standard for online platforms to keep Canadians safe — to hold online platforms accountable for the content they host. Bill C-63 will create stronger protections for kids online and better safeguard everyone in Canada from online hate …”

While reactions have been generally favourable (see the Internet Society’s 18-Mar-2024 What Governments Can Learn from Canada when Regulating Online Harms) there have also been concerns raised over some of the criminal justice reforms included in this proposed legislation as well as complaints from some political parties about the costs of establishing a Digital Safety Commission to regulate social-media companies and force them to limit harmful content online (see the 04-Jul-2024 Creating Online Harms Regulators Expected to Cost Canada $200 Million: PBO from CTV News). Here’s hoping they find the right balance ASAP, for the sake of our kids.

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windbg, WSjgschroeder2, Slowpoke47, WSbobby-p

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Slowpoke47 wrote:

If this is true then why all the resistance against banning TikTok?

Why, indeed?  The Feds have known almost since the inception of T/T that the Chinese government has used it as a conduit for spying and stealing all sorts of proprietary info.

Best guess is that Congress is afraid of losing votes if it acts against this scourge.  And, the Chinese government, which sees China as the rightful world leader, has issued veiled threats against any actions that may rain on their parade.

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WSbobby-p, Cybertooth, WSjgschroeder2

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I am grateful for this article; may there be many more. Many of us who have been looking at social trends such as these for much longer, by which I mean four to five decades, and reviewing the longer history preceding even that span, would suggest that the roots of the current disastrous state of affairs reach deeper. There has been, despite all the wonderful advances in science we have made in many ways, an increasing prevalence of what have more recently been called “narratives” in place of sound science and open scientific debate, in a number of crucial fields, to the extent that those who challenge the narrative are labelled in various ways suggesting that their views (no matter their credentials) are nothing but ideological distortions. Where open debate to hash out the validity of opposing hypotheses ought to occur, to the benefit of scientific advance, the idea is purveyed that you don’t want to be caught opposing the narrative.

The subject at hand is one such case: The relevant evidence underlying a reasonable forecast of a trend in the direction we have been going has been available for decades. A deep cultural pessimism has replaced our former optimism to meet challenges and overcome obstacles to a better future, and on that much more could said. I will simply pose the question for consideration: What kind of optimism for the future does a young child gain by hearing from proverbial day one that every breath he or she takes harms the planet and hastens the future of its demise?

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unbob, Gingermum, Mr. Austin, Myst, WSbobby-p, Cybertooth, WSjgschroeder2

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As kids, we had many ill health related products and activities luring us in for the fall. Cigarettes, booze, drugs, car racing on the public highways and back streets. It’s always something. They didn’t stop making tobacco products or liquor, just slapped age restrictions on labels. It was easy to drop a quarter in the vending machine at the local apartment building for a pack of Marlboros. My point is even if lawmakers could make restrictions one way or another to try and keep social media apps away from our kids, these younger folks will find a way to get it. This is our world now. What has changed is advancement in technology and brainstorming by those who seek riches through innocence and take advantage of vulnerability with a younger generation. Education is always key to help anyone put stuff like this into perspective and know the consequences. Knowing isn’t a fail-safe method to deter behavior or actions, but it brings awareness.

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WSbobby-p, WSjgschroeder2

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Thank you, Brian, for dedicating time and space in the newsletter and on the forum to this topic! Parents, grandparents, everyone with custody of children, needs to be armed with information like this. As a credentialed minster, I have brought similar information to my congregations about the potential perils of social media to children. It reinforces what I’m teaching when reputable news sources like Ask Woody echo what I am saying from the pulpit.

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unbob, WSbobby-p, WSjgschroeder2

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I read the WSJ article referenced by Brian.  It was an excellent commentary. However, Brian’s superb editorial takes it to a much higher level that should scare every parent and grandparent into a crusade to send it to their children, grand children, state political delegation and Congressional delegation. Contrary to responses by some readers, tough laws do matter. They can help control these crimes against our children and against the body-politic. Many thanks, Brian, for your clarity and for your understanding.

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WSbobby-p

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RobM wrote: “Parents, grandparents, everyone with custody of children, needs to be armed with information like this.”  I agree, and that’s why I am requesting that this article be available to anyone who does NOT subscribe to AskWoody Plus (as I do). I would like to send the link – not to “everyone in my address book” – but to some key people. Thanks.

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unbob

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I think it is more a matter of WHO wants to ban what, and WHO makes money off a ban or a money off NO ban.  Always follow the money.  That is all that drives so many (all?) things.  Then that leads to politics (more later).

The alleged original concept of social media was (and continues to be) romanticized as creating a community and giving folks a platform similar to the public square of old.  The difference was that the public square was PUBLIC, and listeners saw the speaker.  Sometimes the audience cheered and other times they jeered and sometimes rotten apples flew.  But you <u>knew</u> who was speaking, and who was repeating and criticizing what they heard.

Social media, however, was/is largely anonymous to the viewer.  This frees many from societal restraint and civility.  Add in the click generation aspect and revenue for clicks for the site, both the outrageous and the good were magnified.  Once algorithms were introduced and fed off of tracker input, all that mattered was opening the pipeline of clicks and “for you” material, both positive and negative.

When politics saw how effective it was in reaching folks on THEIR SIDE, courtesy of the algorithms, interested parties all around the world took advantage.  We are now reaping that whirlwind because no one wants to have their money and influence affected.

For young people the effects have been far worse.  Social media magnified everything that was happening.  The rumor mill of schools went from taking hours and days to spread and work, and became almost instantaneous.  That eliminated opportunities for countering and correcting, and magnified pressure to be on the “cool” or “in” side, lest one be subjected to the rumor and opinion mill.

However, the PRIMARY vector of this tide, the smartphone, eliminated even the lag from hearing and/or reading about someone or an issue, and rushing to type and spread into on your PC at home.  Now, it was immediate and malicious colleagues and classmates could see in real time the effects of their efforts.  Add in the algorithms, and the comments were laser focused, but above all constant and on a 24/7 basis.

I have always believed the spoon feeding of opinions and thought, manipulated by revenue driven advertising, clicks, and algorithms had a certain feel of the “telescreen” envisioned by George Orwell in his novel “1984.”   That made possible the “Two Minute Hate”, a propaganda exercise for the State.

However, the smartphone and social media apps have far, far eclipsed the fixed telescreen and expanded far beyond propaganda into a combination of opinion, curated misdirection, peer-pressure, and a means of creating a constant second-guessing, especially for those in their formative years.  And even worse than that is its being combined with tracking technologies if can “localize” these negatives.

This is why some local school districts are experimenting on smartphone bans in class.  Hopefully, schools will not need to also have a smartphone/social media recess period to allow users to feed their habit.

It will be interesting to see what happens.  The protestations of social media corporations sound suspiciously similar to Big Tobacco resisting any oversight of their product.  Evidence is piling that social media and/or smartphone use is addictive.

When I was working, one higher level manager decided that he would hold his meeting in a secure location that restricted phones and personal devices.  They had to be placed in lockers outside the room.  It was very telling to watch as some attended fidgeted and fiddled in withdrawal, almost like smokers and alcoholics feeding a need to feed their addictions, and they were adults.

Great article.   Thank you Mr. Livingston for the coverage in AskWoody.

 

 

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Steve, unbob, Steve S., Mr. Austin, SueW, Myst, WSbobby-p

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Yes, socialist, or is it socialism media is destroying not only our children, it is destroying our country.

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unbob, WSbobby-p

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Thanks for the article Brian. At the other end of the world, the Australian Opposition leader has pledged to raise the age of social media users to 16 in his first 100 days if he is elected prime minister.
There seems to be a worldwide momentum growing. Let’s hope so for all our sakes.

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WSbobby-p

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An example of TikToc abuse is the Great Valley Middle  School   teachers who were  socially attacked online  by a number of students with multiple TikToc accounts which wreaked  havoc in the community and school.  Great Valley Middle school is in Malvern, Pa.

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See #2686551 for more information.

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Geo wrote:

An example of TikToc abuse is the Great Valley Middle School teachers who were socially attacked online by a number of students with multiple TikToc accounts which wreaked havoc in the community and school. Great Valley Middle school is in Malvern, Pa.

The veil of anonymity makes the bullies bolder.  They are actually cowards.

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Long years ago I was impacted by Buddhist teacher SN Goenka’s statement, “Intoxicants sever your roots from the earth.” Clearly social media is an intoxicant and I agree it should be regulated as such, but regulations alone won’t fill the emptiness in many people’s lives. I’m sure there are many examples of programs aimed at instilling a sense of meaning and purpose for young people. One I’m particularly interested in is called Journeymen. Originally founded for young boys, Journeymen has expanded to include a “One Village” program for all youth. Here’s the link to their website: https://journeymen.us/

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This is an excellent article I wish I could share far and wide.  I have always been of the opinion that children do not belong on social media.  Middle school children are already dealing with tough social situations, never mind being attacked online, or being made more available to predators that manipulate them into seriously dangerous situations.  Everyone has been sold on the thought that we ‘need’ to be able to stay connected 24/7.  No we really don’t.  There are phones that can assist that desire that don’t include social media.  Gabb phones are one brand I can think of.  Call, text, a calculator, limited internet search function – that’s all children need in a cell phone.  Parents need to parent on this issue, but they’re also distracted by it all.  Distract and divide…..Convenience can be and often is enslavement.

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https://www.askwoody.com/newsletter/finding-the-achilles-heel-of-tpm/#public-defender

The article has now been made public.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Steve, unbob, WSbobby-p

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The only real solution is to ban cellphones use by those under the age of 21, just as many states do with tobacco and alcohol.

I doubt there are any politicians willing to sponsor a national bill to do this.

So the problems, as described, will continue.

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samak wrote:

raise the age of social media users to 16

Yes, great idea. But how will it be enforced? A screen asking for confirmation of age is useless and absurd. Same with porn sites, etc.

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Susan Bradley wrote:

The article has now been made public.

Thank you Susan!

Not being ungrateful, but it would also be great if each article in each newsletter had it’s own URL.

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Reinbeau wrote:

Everyone has been sold on the thought that we ‘need’ to be able to stay connected 24/7. No we really don’t.

Absolutely true! I spent at least the first 50+ years of my life disconnected and never once was a problem.

The “Gabb” phone sounds ideal for kids – and many adults.

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Hear, hear!

Before cell phones came out, the only times I ever thought it would be nice to be able to make a call from the car were when I was stuck in traffic going to meet someone and I wanted to let them know.

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Slowpoke47

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Cybertooth wrote:

Before cell phones came out, the only times I ever thought it would be nice to be able to make a call from the car were when I was stuck in traffic going to meet someone and I wanted to let them know.

Some years ago (Stone Age, perhaps?) I got one of the earliest “mobile phones,” they called them “shoebox phones.” They were analog, had an actual box mounted under the seat and a corded handset on a dash bracket, with an antenna on the roof.  This was a huge advantage for me when working on remote jobsites.

When the carrier switched to digital, they gave me a handheld device and rendered the previous equipment obsolete.  But the network was spotty and dropped calls were frequent.  Fast forward to today, coverage is ubiquitous, and folks can’t seem to get through their days without constantly cruising their phones.

When driving, I’ve learned how to spot another driver doing just that- poor directional control and lane-keeping, usually well under the speed of traffic.  I give them extra room to do their thing.  In spite of claims to the contrary, talking on the phone while driving is for some reason much more distracting than talking to a passenger in the car.

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Cybertooth

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The first time I used a cellphone while driving was once when I was going to meet a friend at his girlfriend’s home. I was in the neighborhood but couldn’t pinpoint the place, so I dialed him.

While talking, all of a sudden I felt a soft impact somewhere down the front of my car: I had unwittingly slowed down to like 5MPH, drifted sideways, and bumped a tire into the curb.

That was also the last time I used a cell phone while driving. Counted myself lucky.

 

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Slowpoke47

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This is the right age to give your child a smartphone, according to an NYU mental health researcher

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/19/when-to-give-your-child-a-smartphone-zach-rausch-recommends-14.html

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