Every time this gets brought up it gets called a moral panic. I'm now convinced "moral panic" is a thought terminating cliche in this case. These systems are basically algorithmically addicting, like gambling. We don't let kids gamble - so let's read the studies, see the outcomes, come up with solutions and boundaries, and legislate accordingly.
As a people watcher, I saw my own wife and kid go through this. The best way I can think to describe it is that humans are social creatures, so socialization makes us happy. And we used to do it a few times a day/week/month.<p>Then came social media, and it was pseudo socialization all the time. And at first it's pure ecstasy. But then you get used to it as the new normal, and without it feel empty like you need it. More and more.<p>It sounds like I'm describing a drug, and honestly, for most it seems to behave similarly and should be treated as such. It's hard to regulate or argue because on paper, it's harmless. So I have no idea what the solution could ever possibly be other than intervention or introspection.<p>(in full transparency, I went through this as well, but it's not easy to see when it's happening to yourself.)
Social media is 21st century cigarettes. Some people stumbled upon something that turned out to be addictive, and after they realized it was they put all their effort into optimizing it to be even more addictive with little or no regard for the detrimental effects it had on their users. I don't know which is more toxic, the product or the people who make it.
This doesn't align with general discourse, but Social Media companies aren't alone to blame. Their algo is simple show people what they are watching and engaging with. So, if you are into deeply learning about AI/ML and LLMs you'll get tons of videos on that. On TikTok if you watch Hispanic girls in short skirts, it will show you more of that.<p>It isn't hugely different from other media; Fox will show you right leaning content and some other left. The two main differences are quantity of content/metrics available allowing for individual level personalization and phone/iPad being in every hand 24/7.<p>So, while commonly assumed the solution to force Social Media companies to show diverse and boring content. But most successful will be to simply reduce the time spent on these sites/apps. 5 yo don't need own iPad and 10 yo don't need a smartphone. I don't see why anyone younger than 14-16 need phone/computer in school. Books are cheaper than ever; Parks and Skate parks are still there and so are swimming pools. Cooking pizza/burger with kids should still be fun.<p>If parents are not ready to do parenting, one option is do China have hard limits in devices/accounts on time a child can spend online but that won't work in USA and Western sensibilities.
It's complicated, but the idea of social media isn't bad, it is how it is used that is bad and preying on kids is always bad. The concept of being connected with family through social media to share about things going on responsibly is inherently good. However lets be real people will devolve things into the least responsible use ever.
I don't think the problem is social media per se. I think the problem is the ad-funded business model.<p>Because the business only gets revenue from attention, it needs to create more attention. So it engages in these really harmful tactics (knowingly) to create addiction and engagement, because that's how it makes money.<p>If everyone had to pay for their social media and it didn't display ads, the problem wouldn't exist. Social media companies would be incentivised to reduce your engagement with their platform. They would pay attention to what their customers wanted (the user, not the advertiser) and probably give more of a shit about our mental health.<p>We see the same with journalism, where the ad-driven business model produces clickbait, outrage porn and the enshittification of the reading experience.<p>The whole internet would work much better if we just banned advertising on it. I know this is impractical, but it's true.
1. First get them panicked<p>2. Throw around some pseudo facts<p>3. Gauge the public response<p>4. "It's tepid at best"<p>5. Sweep it back under the rug, but now you have your talking points in the next election
It’s been a long-held opinion that tech companies laugh at the out-of-touch Congresspeople at these hearings. Recall Mark Zuckerberg’s incredulity when members of Congress had to ask him how Facebook makes money.<p>And as if that isn’t enough, tech companies are only loyal to their boards of directors, who are only loyal to quarter-over-quarter growth, and nothing else.
I don't see this as a left- or right-wing issue. Not least because it's manifestly obvious now that relatively illiterate people (and especially children) of all views and walks have become totally warped by "a little knowledge" passed in sugar cubes along with the stick of social ostracizarion if they fail to conform to algorithms that encourage extremism.<p>Social media firms should be held liable for the massive social damage they've inflicted and externalized. The entire paradigm needs to be reduced to dust just as much as Hamas does. It's an internal enemy and a time bomb for our civilization.