Viewpoint: Curbing and surveilling social media won't safeguard children; try these alternatives instead.

Experts, such as the US Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association, have raised concerns about the mental health, self-esteem, and general well-being of young people due to the increased use of the internet. Additionally, Americans have expressed worries about their privacy and safety online. The Pew Research Center found that around 90% of people are concerned about the amount of personal information that social media platforms collect on children.

The current situation clearly isn't working, and lawmakers are eager to take action. However, some proposed bills may do more harm than good. In particular, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act are being considered by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Both of these bills are based on the idea of preventing minors from accessing certain content or online services entirely. Research, however, suggests that these approaches are unlikely to be successful and may even put children at greater risk by depriving them of essential resources for their development, health, and safety.

KOSA requires companies to design their platforms in a way that doesn't allow minors to encounter content or features that could contribute to mental health issues. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act prohibits children under 13 from accessing any online services, including those specifically designed for children, and expands the use of monitoring technology to track what children, including those under 18, do online.

Determining what constitutes "harm" and which content causes harm is challenging. However, research does not show that restricting children's access to content positively impacts their mental health. In fact, keeping kids away from certain types of content leads to them using online resources less. Teenagers, in particular, rely on online services for information about sexual health, fitness, nutrition, and mental health conditions.

A study conducted by Global Kids Online 2019 found that children with less restrictive parents use the internet for a wider range of informational and creative activities, while those with more restrictive parents tend to focus only on entertainment. Another study showed that restrictions prevented kids from using the internet to complete tasks like homework.

Restricting online access doesn't only hinder youth from benefiting from valuable information, but it also doesn't guarantee their safety. Although limited exposure to risks in the short term might seem beneficial, it can have negative long-term consequences. For example, it hinders the development of crucial skills like privacy awareness and online safety.

The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would prevent children and teenagers from accessing the internet, potentially leaving them unprepared for independent navigation. Furthermore, both KOSA and the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act propose parental monitoring tools to help parents oversee their children's online activities.

Research has shown that these monitoring tools can damage parent-child relationships, create problems between children and their peers, and often have no positive effect, or even a negative one. They can also limit children's ability to socialize online and develop their digital competency, like understanding how to use the internet safely.

Additionally, children can bypass parental monitoring, sometimes leading them to explore dangerous spaces. The problem with both restriction and monitoring is that they erode trust. Adolescents want to be trusted and typically don't react well to restrictive parenting. A survey of mobile safety app reviews posted by 8- to 19-year-olds revealed that 76% gave the apps a one-star review, complaining about their intrusiveness and the negative impact they had on their relationships with their parents.

The most effective solution lies in encouraging young people to navigate the internet safely while knowing their caregivers and support networks are available.

Instead of attempting to shield children completely, experts suggest that policymakers, companies, and parents should instead focus on equipping them with the skills to explore the web safely.

One of the ways policymakers can contribute to this is by passing privacy legislation like the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) which seeks to minimize data collection and processing for all individuals and deter harmful content from targeting children. Lawmakers can also strengthen APRA by prohibiting ads targeted at those under 17, as this is backed by lawmakers, child rights groups, digital rights groups, and the Federal Trade Commission.

Enacting a "parental panopticon," as some have suggested, will undermine expectations of privacy and place the most vulnerable children at risk.

Instead of trying to protect children from all online experiences, emphasis should be placed on empowering them with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the web safely, knowing that adults are there to guide them as they grow. By focusing on privacy, trust, and digital literacy, we can better support our youth and ensure their online safety.

Social media platforms play a vital role in ensuring the safety of kids online. They can offer children and their parents more tools to filter content and interactions, such as the new feature from Threads that enables users to screen content based on selected keywords.

However, this is only the beginning. Social media companies should explore more deliberate designs tailored to young people. Based on our observations, we suggest several approaches to enhance online safety for children.

One idea is to set private accounts as the default, so kids' information remains secured. Additionally, social media platforms can limit interactions with strangers, for example, through informing users that they share no mutual connections with someone and asking for their approval to proceed.

Moreover, there's room for improvement in reporting features. Platforms can provide more detailed and accessible options for users to report inappropriate content, and may even offer content warnings for certain, potentially harmful images, as Apple and Instagram have recently done with nudity.

While parents have a critical role in this process, they should not rely solely on restrictions. Rather, they should engage in active mediation, acting as the bridge between unwanted content and negative impacts. This could involve discussing online activities with their kids or responding to content on social media posted by their children. By providing guidance and support, parents help their kids become more aware of potential dangers and learn how to protect themselves online.

Redirecting our focus toward beneficial changes instead of mere feel-good measures is essential. As the well-being of our children is at stake, it is crucial to actualize strategies that foster their security in the digital realm.

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Opinions regarding the proposed bills, such as the Kids Online Safety Act and the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act, vary, with some believing they may do more harm than good due to potential negative impacts on children's digital competency and relationships with their parents. The increase in parents expressing concerns about the use of social media and its impact on children's mental health and self-esteem has led to a variety of opinions on how to address these issues.

Despite concerns about the mental health and well-being of young people due to increased internet use, some experts argue that limiting and supervising social media may not provide a solution. Instead, they suggest that equipping children with the skills to explore the web safely while having support from their caregivers and adults could be more effective in ensuring online safety.

Source: edition.cnn.com