Science
Give adolescents the skills to use social media safely
Key Points
Livingston discusses research on the early effects of Australia’s social media ban for children under 16.1 We agree with the importance of taking precautions, but think that, instead of focusing primarily on restricting adolescents’ access to social media, greater emphasis should be on teaching them how to use it. Social media has become a non-negotiable part of everyday life; it is atypical for a teenager to not have a social media account. Unlike adults, however, the prefrontal cortex of...
Livingston discusses research on the early effects of Australia’s social media ban for children under 16.1 We agree with the importance of taking precautions, but think that, instead of focusing primarily on restricting adolescents’ access to social media, greater emphasis should be on teaching them how to use it.Social media has become a non-negotiable part of everyday life; it is atypical for a teenager to not have a social media account. Unlike adults, however, the prefrontal cortex of teenagers is still developing, making them especially vulnerable to the influence of other teenagers and potentially causing them to make impulsive decisions.2 Any media ban targeting adolescents must therefore fully account for their physiological and psychological characteristics, as well as their socioemotional needs. The government should allocate funding to teach adolescents a safe way to use social media and to help them understand that everything they post contributes to a personal digital...