They are aware that apps often serve them content they call “brain rot” that keeps them glued to their phones while simultaneously bringing profits to big tech companies. Yet social networks are a central part of their lives, and most do not see it as the government’s job to ban them.
Britain, like other countries in Europe and beyond, is considering ways to restrict social networks, including the possibility of banning use by under-16s, following the example of Australia. The government has invited citizens to participate in a public consultation that lasts until May, reports Reuters.
Pupils at a south London school said Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok are helping them socialise, make new friends and learn about the world. However, they also highlighted the downsides – the apps sometimes leave them exhausted, exposed to abuse and harmful content, aware that they are designed to keep them constantly on the screen.
The platforms say they have safety and protection mechanisms in place for teens — from time limits on TikTok, to privacy settings on Snapchat and monitoring tools on Instagram.
Nevertheless, young people admit that they manage to bypass the controls.
While many parents and politicians support the ban, some psychologists and researchers point out that there is no evidence that it would be effective.
Professor Amy Orben from the University of Cambridge emphasizes that the influence of social networks is not unambiguous, while some teenagers suffer serious risks, for others they represent a valuable way of connecting.
Students also described negative experiences – exposure to disturbing content, problematic comments, pressures about appearance and self-confidence. However, the majority is against the ban, believing that it would be difficult to implement and could lead young people to even more dangerous platforms.
Experts warn that the bans have not produced results, in Australia a fifth of teenagers under the age of 16 continued to use social networks two months after the ban.
Instead, they say, the pressure should be on companies to build safer platforms, as algorithmic content becomes increasingly addictive and in some cases leads children to pro-anorexic or self-destructive videos.
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
