Senator Josh Hawley Wants to Protect You From Yourself
Three
Bills to Fight the Scourge of Social Media: Two Pending, Part 2
image generated by DALL-E:
The latest multi-year data that the CDC has on the leading causes of death for adolescents spans the years, 2018-2021 (there are few clicks the gov makes you do before access), includes 2021, and was thus the most intense period of Covid infections. The Number One cause of death was accidents. Number Two was homicides. Death by Social Media did not make the list. Death by "Self-Harm" — Suicide — was Number 3, but there is no way of measuring how many of those teen suicides were prompted by bullying or other kinds of taunting on Social Media.
source:
https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/datarequest/D158;jsessionid=3FFC04B77994484815DD5395EC4B
The latest statistics for 2022 lists either
deaths by homicides, or
Covid as the two leading causes of Adolescent
deaths. Either way, Social Media specifically isn't among the
candidates, as Senator Hawley's proposed legislation would lead one to
believe.
The second bill introduced by Senator Hawley
instructs that "a
Federal report and longitudinal study regarding the effects of social
media on users under age 18" be made. Senator, there already
exists studies funded by both public and private entities that document
well the positive and negative effects of Social Media on not only
adolescents, but the population in general. The National Institute
of Health made an in-depth and well documented study of "Brain
health consequences of digital technology use." The
study paints a situation that is more nuanced and complex than
conventional thinking might assume.
Potential harmful effects of extensive screen time and technology use include heightened attention-deficit symptoms, impaired emotional and social intelligence, technology addiction, social isolation, impaired brain development, and disrupted sleep. However, various apps, videogames, and other online tools may benefit brain health. Functional imaging scans show that internet-naive older adults who learn to search online show significant increases in brain neural activity during simulated internet searches. Certain computer programs and videogames may improve memory, multitasking skills, fluid intelligence, and other cognitive abilities.
Other studies show equally mixed statistics on the benefits and the harm caused by Social Media. A recent Pew Research study stated that "Teens who have a more positive outlook about social media are more likely to say these platforms benefit them." Nature.com published an article, February 14, 2023, that detailed the contradictory results of studies made in the UK as Parliament grappled with its own measures to protect youth from the onslaught of Social Media. Among its findings and conclusions were:
A difficulty facing policymakers, however, is that most of the scientific evidence on the impact of social media and other online activities on adolescent mental health is inconsistent. Some studies might report similar effects, such as small negative correlations between time spent on social media and measures of well-being, but researchers differ in how important they think such findings are.
The study proposed by Senator Hawley's bill is founded on the premise
that Social Media is harmful to adolescents. But that is not
scientific, or, at best, bad science. Scientific studies
begin with asking a question; and not by stating an ultimatum.
Considered with its companion legislation discussed in the previous
post, and that which he proposed in the last Congress, neither of
Senator Hawley's proposed bills seem like serious matters that will ever
see a floor vote.
And, therefore, "It
this Reporter's opinion," that we leave Science and
Medicine to the Scientists and Physicians. And leave the Snake Oil
to the politicians.
Brain Salad Surgery
It will work for you, it works for me
Brain rot
perversity
Brain Salad Surgery
— Brain Salad Surgery, Emerson, Lake &
Palmer