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Teen Social Media Bans Miss the Point

70 points · 118 comments · eustoria

  1. sega_sai · · focus · HN ↗
    "In scary headlines like these, technology is the subject, and teens are passive victims." -- I am sorry, but how is this not true, when companies like Meta are in full control of their algorithms, tuning them to maximum addiction.

    One can indeed argue what is the best way to deal with the problem of kids and social media, but I think the article is misrepresenting the situation.

    1. vrganj · · focus · HN ↗
      Yup. All this talk of personal responsibility in these types of situations is nothing but a perfidious form of victim blaming.

      "The crack addict should've known better, it's not the dealer's fault they came back for more!"

      1. howunfortunate · · focus · HN ↗
        I think personal responsibility does play into these situations to some extent, but even so, that doesn't imply there should be zero regulation.

        Both for crack addicts and teens using social media, they not only hurt themselves, but also hurt those around them.

        The studies on teen mental health largely suggest that mostly it's not about using a lot of social media yourself, but living in an area where social media is the coin of the realm. It's the toxic culture SM generates rather than direct use that's hurting teen mental health.

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