Minors Banned on Social Media: A Paradox of Protection and Freedom

Minors being on social media has been a long debate between users, regulators, and social media companies.

Among the primary arguments on the issue were the protection and freedom of underage users on these platforms populated by adults.

The issue recently gained new traction after Florida successfully banned access to social media for users aged 16 and under.

Children are Exposed to Explicit Content

A common reason for the restrictions on children was the social media platforms allowing underage users to be exposed to explicit and sexual content online.

Recent court documents on Meta have only further intensified calls for a new unified restriction on these platforms as it has proven that the companies have been negligent of the younger audience.

Reports of grooming and unsolicited messages to minors have become common as online predators were able to reach accounts of underage users with ease.

The rise of AI and deepfakes among regular users did not help the fear of parents and legislators that the likeness of children can be used and will be used for malicious acts.

Social Media a Gateway Communication for Younger Generations

Many users, particularly younger generations, oppose the total ban on social media as it hinders their freedom of information and expression.

According to younger users, safer social media will offer better results to children rather than a completely inaccessible one.

A study by the American Psychological Association revealed that social media is critical in younger user's socialization and perception of their self, surroundings, and society.

According to the study, social media "provides opportunities young people to discover new information, learn about current events, engage with issues, and have their voices heard."

Many issues, including the problem of rampant sexual harassment online, will not be identified and raised to the public without social media.

Supervision from Parents and Guardians

One of the widely-regarded solutions is making parents and guardians more responsible on their children's online consumption.

Of course, this comes with educating parents and children on media information literacy to prevent them from being abused and exploited online.

Aside from initiatives from private and non-profit organizations, no proper guidelines have yet put the adults responsible for their child's access to the internet.

New Safety Protocols from Companies and Regulators

For parents to effectively guide their children on the wild internet, new rules and policies must first be implemented on these social media platforms.

Just this month, Snapchat implemented new parental controls that will allow guardians to prevent underage users from accessing features deemed unsuitable for children.

The Federal Trade Commission is also pushing for a revision in the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule to further secure underage users' data from being marketed.