instagram story viewer > #oweness

#oweness

Posts
February was a tipping point in the global movement to reverse the phone-based childhood. Australia's age-gating policy is resounding around the world as a new norm in how we see social media. Social media apps are inappropriate for kids. The constant personal brand management, the 24/7 social comparison with the most beautiful and successful people in the world, contact with strangers, many of whom posing with fake identities, the sextortion, the drug sales — social media apps are NOT for kids under 16. Ideally under 18, but in #theanxiousgeneration I proposed 16 as a socially achievable age limit. Thank you Australia for inspiring a dozen countries within a month of your policy being enacted — Indonesia, Malaysia, Denmark, France, Spain, and the entire EU are considering similar policies. I don't call these laws "bans," because kids will still be able to access social media content if the platforms allow logged-off viewing, like YouTube does. The policy limits social media *accounts*, with their attendant personal algorithms, which study after study have shown tailor content for under-16s quickly into thinspo, looksmaxxing, bigorexia, depressive and anxiety-inducing content, including blatant suicide-promoting videos. It's good for kids to be able to watch a YouTube video on a family computer — we just don't want them having their own personalized feeds, including the highly addictive YouTube shorts, which the platform is aggressively pushing on users and which destroy teens' attention spans. Thank you @billmaher @realtimers for having me on last month — full episode streaming on HBO Max.
February was a tipping point in the global movement to reverse the phone-based childhood. Australia's age-gating policy is resounding around the world as a new norm in how we see social media. Social media apps are inappropriate for kids. The constant personal brand management, the 24/7 social comparison with the most beautiful and successful people in the world, contact with strangers, many of whom posing with fake identities, the sextortion, the drug sales — social media apps are NOT for kids under 16. Ideally under 18, but in #theanxiousgeneration I proposed 16 as a socially achievable age limit. Thank you Australia for inspiring a dozen countries within a month of your policy being enacted — Indonesia, Malaysia, Denmark, France, Spain, and the entire EU are considering similar policies. I don't call these laws "bans," because kids will still be able to access social media content if the platforms allow logged-off viewing, like YouTube does. The policy limits social media *accounts*, with their attendant personal algorithms, which study after study have shown tailor content for under-16s quickly into thinspo, looksmaxxing, bigorexia, depressive and anxiety-inducing content, including blatant suicide-promoting videos. It's good for kids to be able to watch a YouTube video on a family computer — we just don't want them having their own personalized feeds, including the highly addictive YouTube shorts, which the platform is aggressively pushing on users and which destroy teens' attention spans. Thank you @billmaher @realtimers for having me on last month — full episode streaming on HBO Max.
Companies like TikTok are making billions from children aged 13-17, and it's not just about the cost to them. It's the opportunity cost, the addictive algorithms they know are 'digital cocaine,' and the lifelong customer they gain. Protecting kids online is a non-partisan issue Congress must address. #ProtectKidsOnline #DigitalAddiction #SocialMedia #BigTech #ChildSafety
Companies like TikTok are making billions from children aged 13-17, and it's not just about the cost to them. It's the opportunity cost, the addictive algorithms they know are 'digital cocaine,' and the lifelong customer they gain. Protecting kids online is a non-partisan issue Congress must address. #ProtectKidsOnline #DigitalAddiction #SocialMedia #BigTech #ChildSafety
We’ve created a digital world where children are expected to encounter pornography. And somehow we’ve started acting like that’s just part of growing up. Parents everywhere are seeing the consequences. Kids exposed to things they shouldn’t see. Devices with unfiltered access. Content appearing on school laptops and friends’ phones. Just look at the comments from parents: • “2nd grade is when my boys were exposed and curious” • “We have an 8-year-old in our neighborhood showing kids things they shouldn’t see.” • “My daughter saw an explicit pop-up on her laptop.” These stories are becoming common. And they shouldn’t be. So we have to ask a simple question: Why are social media companies and big tech getting away with this? Why are the companies designing these platforms not required to protect children? Because the current system rewards engagement and profit — not safety. But it doesn’t have to stay this way. It’s time to demand real protections for the most innocent. Parents standing together can change this. No more pretending this is normal. Kids deserve better. #childfirst
We’ve created a digital world where children are expected to encounter pornography. And somehow we’ve started acting like that’s just part of growing up. Parents everywhere are seeing the consequences. Kids exposed to things they shouldn’t see. Devices with unfiltered access. Content appearing on school laptops and friends’ phones. Just look at the comments from parents: • “2nd grade is when my boys were exposed and curious” • “We have an 8-year-old in our neighborhood showing kids things they shouldn’t see.” • “My daughter saw an explicit pop-up on her laptop.” These stories are becoming common. And they shouldn’t be. So we have to ask a simple question: Why are social media companies and big tech getting away with this? Why are the companies designing these platforms not required to protect children? Because the current system rewards engagement and profit — not safety. But it doesn’t have to stay this way. It’s time to demand real protections for the most innocent. Parents standing together can change this. No more pretending this is normal. Kids deserve better. #childfirst
Ad | Do we really know what the algorithm is feeding our children? @bigtechslittlevictims recently ran an experiment to see what children are shown when they sign up to social media for the first time at 13. The results are shocking. Within minutes, fictional profiles of 13 year olds were served harmful and dangerous content that no adult should see, let alone a child. It’s time for the government to step up, protect our children, and raise the age of social media access to 16. Follow the campaign to learn more. 🎥 Content warning: This video contains brief clips of some of the concerning content served to the 13 year old personas during the experiment. These clips have been carefully selected to protect viewers. The most extreme content has not been included.
Ad | Do we really know what the algorithm is feeding our children? @bigtechslittlevictims recently ran an experiment to see what children are shown when they sign up to social media for the first time at 13. The results are shocking. Within minutes, fictional profiles of 13 year olds were served harmful and dangerous content that no adult should see, let alone a child. It’s time for the government to step up, protect our children, and raise the age of social media access to 16. Follow the campaign to learn more. 🎥 Content warning: This video contains brief clips of some of the concerning content served to the 13 year old personas during the experiment. These clips have been carefully selected to protect viewers. The most extreme content has not been included.
Are social media bans the best way to keep your child safe online? You might be thinking that, but age limits alone will not fix broken systems. Here are 3 things that need to happen to truly protect children in digital spaces.
Are social media bans the best way to keep your child safe online? You might be thinking that, but age limits alone will not fix broken systems. Here are 3 things that need to happen to truly protect children in digital spaces.
Did You Know Many States Want to Protect Kids From Social Media - so they Pass Laws!? Sadly, The Laws Are Over Turned Often Because States Are SUED By Social Media And Tech Trade Groups. Stitch with @skynews Dozens of cases remain, all centered on free speech, privacy, parental authority, and constitutional limits in the digital age. I want to hear your thoughts! Do you think these laws empower parents or do they give the state control that infringes upon your right as a parent? Comment “CHOICE” below to read my blog for more information ❤️ #parenting #socialmediaaddiction #onlinekids #kidsafe #childsafety Be Well! Posted from a phone hardwired to the internet
Did You Know Many States Want to Protect Kids From Social Media - so they Pass Laws!? Sadly, The Laws Are Over Turned Often Because States Are SUED By Social Media And Tech Trade Groups. Stitch with @skynews Dozens of cases remain, all centered on free speech, privacy, parental authority, and constitutional limits in the digital age. I want to hear your thoughts! Do you think these laws empower parents or do they give the state control that infringes upon your right as a parent? Comment “CHOICE” below to read my blog for more information ❤️ #parenting #socialmediaaddiction #onlinekids #kidsafe #childsafety Be Well! Posted from a phone hardwired to the internet
Ad | Do we really know what the algorithm is feeding our children? @bigtechslittlevictims recently ran an experiment to see what children are shown when they sign up to social media for the first time at 13. The results are shocking. Within minutes, fictional profiles of 13 year olds were served harmful and dangerous content that no adult should see, let alone a child. It’s time for the government to step up, protect our children, and raise the age of social media access to 16. Follow the campaign to learn more. 🎥 Content warning: This video contains brief clips of some of the concerning content served to the 13 year old personas during the experiment. These clips have been carefully selected to protect viewers. The most extreme content has not been included.
Ad | Do we really know what the algorithm is feeding our children? @bigtechslittlevictims recently ran an experiment to see what children are shown when they sign up to social media for the first time at 13. The results are shocking. Within minutes, fictional profiles of 13 year olds were served harmful and dangerous content that no adult should see, let alone a child. It’s time for the government to step up, protect our children, and raise the age of social media access to 16. Follow the campaign to learn more. 🎥 Content warning: This video contains brief clips of some of the concerning content served to the 13 year old personas during the experiment. These clips have been carefully selected to protect viewers. The most extreme content has not been included.
If a social media ban for under 16s happens, will you ignore it and still allow your child to have social media? Or are you hoping a ban comes in to place? Share your thoughts in the poll and comments 👇🏻
If a social media ban for under 16s happens, will you ignore it and still allow your child to have social media? Or are you hoping a ban comes in to place? Share your thoughts in the poll and comments 👇🏻
Children should not be exposed to harmful content on social media. It is time to raise the digital age of consent to 16.
Children should not be exposed to harmful content on social media. It is time to raise the digital age of consent to 16.
Why are our platforms shaping what our children see? Questions are being raised about media influence, values, and content direction in today’s streaming world. Where do we draw the line between entertainment, ideology, and parental concern? Watch, think, and decide for yourself. #MediaDiscussion #ParentingConcerns #DigitalCulture #WatchAndDecide #SocialDebate #StreamingContent #PublicDiscussion #ThoughtProvoking
Why are our platforms shaping what our children see? Questions are being raised about media influence, values, and content direction in today’s streaming world. Where do we draw the line between entertainment, ideology, and parental concern? Watch, think, and decide for yourself. #MediaDiscussion #ParentingConcerns #DigitalCulture #WatchAndDecide #SocialDebate #StreamingContent #PublicDiscussion #ThoughtProvoking
I wrote this piece thinking about whether we should be banning social media for children following the UK parliament deciding against banning social media for under16s. I expected to land quite firmly on one side, but actually… I ended up somewhere slightly different. The more I looked into this, the more I felt like we’re having the wrong conversation. Debates about banning social media should have happened in 2016, not 2026, in my view. What we’re moving into now is something much more complicated. Less about attention… and much more about attachment. Technology that doesn’t just entertain or distract but listens, responds, adapts… and starts to feel like it knows you. And that’s already happening. Children forming relationships with AI. Emotional dependency on bots. Devices that can capture voice, face, and behaviour continuously. So yes, of course, regulating social media matters, but I don’t think it’s the main event anymore. Because we’re moving from a world where children choose to go online…they are surrounded by it. And where privacy, basic privacy, starts to become a kind of privilege. Anyway, here is the accompanying video to the piece. Full episode on YouTube. Link in bio
I wrote this piece thinking about whether we should be banning social media for children following the UK parliament deciding against banning social media for under16s. I expected to land quite firmly on one side, but actually… I ended up somewhere slightly different. The more I looked into this, the more I felt like we’re having the wrong conversation. Debates about banning social media should have happened in 2016, not 2026, in my view. What we’re moving into now is something much more complicated. Less about attention… and much more about attachment. Technology that doesn’t just entertain or distract but listens, responds, adapts… and starts to feel like it knows you. And that’s already happening. Children forming relationships with AI. Emotional dependency on bots. Devices that can capture voice, face, and behaviour continuously. So yes, of course, regulating social media matters, but I don’t think it’s the main event anymore. Because we’re moving from a world where children choose to go online…they are surrounded by it. And where privacy, basic privacy, starts to become a kind of privilege. Anyway, here is the accompanying video to the piece. Full episode on YouTube. Link in bio
The time for negotiations is over. Tech companies have 30 days from today to implement age restrictions on social media access for kids under 14. Within 60 days, parental consent must be in place for 14 to 16 year olds.
The time for negotiations is over. Tech companies have 30 days from today to implement age restrictions on social media access for kids under 14. Within 60 days, parental consent must be in place for 14 to 16 year olds.
back to up