Article by Viory
Open University of Catalonia (UOC) lecturer and communication expert Mireia Montana warned on Thursday that government plans to ban social media for children under 16 could backfire, pushing teenagers to seek out the very platforms they are being told to avoid.
“Teenagers’ first reaction is to figure out how to circumvent the ban, just like they use fake IDs to get into nightclubs when they’re underage,” she said.
She argued that a ban could even risk making social media more appealing.
“Forbidden things are more desirable, more alluring. This also means you’re showing them you don’t trust them,” Montana continued. “What they’ll try to do is lie about their age, try to get their way, borrow a phone from an older sibling or a friend, find other ways to access these networks they’re already hooked on.”
Many young people interviewed also reacted negatively to the proposed ban, saying politicians underestimate how central online platforms have become to everyday life.
“They [politicians] probably don’t get that’s the way we socialise now, it’s the way we do our plans, the way we meet our hobbies. We entertain ourselves,” said college student Monica Aguilera.
“I think politicians don’t understand how social media is used and how important it is for teenagers, because the world is now organised so that teenagers communicate through social media and interact with each other, and it’s also a way for them to learn and see the world,” added fellow student Carles Bruguera.
On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans to restrict social media access for under-16s. Spain would join countries including Australia, Greece, the UK and France, which have either introduced similar measures or are considering them.
The proposal has drawn criticism from tech figures. Telegram founder Pavel Durov warned that the plans would force platforms to collect sensitive data on all users and give governments greater control over online content. X owner Elon Musk also condemned the proposal, calling Sanchez “a tyrant and a traitor to the people of Spain”.
Article by Viory
Related Post :
Teen Dies After AI Chatbot Suggested He ‘Come Home’ in Fatal Interaction
Man Gets Two Years’ Jail, Caning for Asking Daughter to Have Physical Relations With Him
Share this content:
