The Car Analogy
When it comes to understanding how to regulate social media, we can draw lessons from the car, a transformative technology of the previous century. Just as a car is a powerful tool that requires education, training, and safety features, social media also needs similar considerations.
The Need for Improvement
A recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine highlights the rise in mental health issues among adolescents linked to their increased use of social media. However, the researchers caution against hasty conclusions and broad restrictions on young people’s access to social media tools.
The Complex Relationship
While certain features of social media can be harmful, such as algorithms that promote harmful content and the excessive time spent on devices, there are also benefits for marginalized teenagers. The authors emphasize the need for a measured approach that protects youth mental health rather than imposing sweeping bans.
Understanding the Nuances
It is important to distinguish between different activities on social media, ranging from harmless scrolling to gaming and group texting. Failure to differentiate these activities makes it difficult to identify specific elements that may cause harm.
The Ever-Evolving Landscape
Social media platforms and their audiences evolve rapidly, making it challenging for researchers and policymakers to keep up. More research is needed to establish causal links between social media and mental health, and tech companies should share data with researchers to facilitate this process.
Taking Action
While waiting for conclusive evidence, families, schools, and lawmakers must make decisions about adolescent social media use. The report’s recommendations do not preclude individual families from setting their own rules to protect their children.
“Adolescents, parents, educators, and policymakers need to make decisions about adolescent social media use now even in the absence of the highest quality evidence,” says Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at UC San Francisco.