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What will really happen if, in most European countries, children are banned from using social media? Will they truly understand how harmful excessive use of social media is? Or will it make them even more eager to access what they are no longer allowed to? What about parents? Will they become more responsible when it comes to their children’s issues and concerns? Or will it make them even more distant? What about fundamental freedoms? Will they be better protected by such a severe ban? Or will social surveillance expand even further, with a state apparatus monitoring every move on social media and functioning like an arbitrary and omnipotent Big Brother?
There is no doubt about it: social media has a profound impact on the daily lives and behavior of our children. This universe, extremely complex and dynamic, with constantly changing rules, exciting and dangerous at the same time, absorbs, captivates, and subjugates children from a very early age. From the moment they wake up until they go to bed, mobile devices and social media are part of what has become their daily routine. Whether we like it or not, this is the new “normal.”
Any rational individual, from parents to teachers and therapists, will say the same thing: excessive use of these social platforms, as is the case today, causes addiction and affects cognitive development, concentration, social functioning, interaction with parents, friends, and schoolmates, physical rest, in fact, almost all daily activities. Ignoring or pretending not to understand the potential destructive effects is no less dangerous than the effects themselves. So what can be done?
It is undoubtedly necessary to discuss this danger and the methods needed to save children from (self-)destruction in the public sphere. On the other hand, in an almost coordinated manner, an increasing number of European countries are announcing legislative measures to block children’s access to these social platforms, which does not seem to be meeting with the same consensus.
The intention to ban social media for children under a certain age has sparked outrage. Why this backlash, given that there is almost universal consensus on the significant risks of hyper-socialization in the digital environment? Why this lack of confidence in a measure that should ensure the protection of children’s health?
For several weeks now, but especially since the vote in the French National Assembly, when the ban on social media for children under 15 was adopted, the issue has exploded at the European level. This should come as no surprise to anyone. On the contrary, the topic will keep growing.
The latest in a long line of countries to announce that it is preparing such a ban is Germany. All German mainstream parties are ready to support a legislative proposal to forbid children under 14 from using digital platforms. The same line of thinking and the same modus operandi everywhere.
Those who advocate banning social media for very young users are aware that it is extremely difficult to actually enforce such a measure, as they claim, without violating essential rights and freedoms. Nevertheless, they insist that it must be urgently adopted by legislative means.
Any decision to limit or restrict freedom of expression will be met with enormous suspicion. Even if it appears to be based on the most noble and benevolent intentions. As is the protection of children’s mental and physical health. Today, we see how the long-proclaimed fight against disinformation in the digital environment is, in fact, a fierce battle against freedom of speech, and moderating online content is a euphemism for censorship.
Who can guarantee that banning children from social media is not just another draconian measure that, instead of attacking the root of the evil, will only make the evil stronger?