Craig’s List - Social Media Ban for Kids

Welcome to Craig’s List. No, not that one.

Following Australia, the UK is planning to ban social media for children under 16. Currently more than 40 countries around the world are considering similar bans. Proponents site these changes as a way to combat the harmful effects of social media on young people. Critics argue that this is a short-sighted solution that also harms kids who have become reliant on social media for many things.

Personally, I’m a fan of stricter regulation. Germany has passed regulations that I am a big fan of:

• Remove hate speech, defamation, or incitement to violence within 24 hours or receive a hefty fine

• Provide accessible reporting pathways

• Establish clear procedures for appeals

I would also love to see laws banning misinformation and generative AI content.

One more note on the social media ban. News outlets have been interviewing teens about the ban. Of course, insensitive people have been using this moment as a chance to dunk on them for being so reliant on social media.

The piece they’re missing is that society set up this system of reliance. For a wide variety of reasons, our schools are ill-equipped to handle the problem and parents aren’t taking enough responsibility. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a village to destroy one.