Is Social Media a Good Invention? One way to measure the value of a product is to see how many people wish “it never existed.” Cigarettes, gambling… such addictive things, while offering momentary pleasure, often leave people with deep regret.
The Unprecedented Expansion of Social Media
Few non-addictive products can evoke such a love-hate relationship. If you truly dislike something, you can just stop using it. But what about social media? Its market expansion has been unprecedented. From early chat rooms to the once-dominant Facebook, by 2020, more than half of the world’s population were social media users. Even those who dislike social media often find it hard to avoid, because quitting it means disconnecting from the flow of information—a reality that is especially unbearable for teenagers. Nearly all American teens are heavy social media users, spending over 5 hours on it daily.
How does Generation Z really view social media? Do they feel about it the way 71% of smokers regret smoking even as they continue to puff away? Recently, researchers conducted a study of 1,006 Generation Z individuals (born between 1997 and 2012) across the United States to understand their social media habits. First, the daily usage time was staggering. Over 60% of respondents used social media for at least 4 hours a day, and 23% used it for more than 7 hours daily. Secondly, 60% of respondents believed social media had a negative impact on society, while 32% thought otherwise. 52% said social media benefited them personally, while 29% felt it harmed them. However, the situation differed for women and minority groups. Among the 37% of users who felt social media had a negative impact, women were more likely than men to feel this way, and minority groups had an even higher proportion than others. Numerous studies have shown that social media disproportionately harms vulnerable young people.
Survey: Half Wish X Never Existed
Even though more people believe social media’s benefits outweigh its drawbacks, we cannot ignore the harm it causes to millions of teenagers. It fosters anxiety, social comparison, insomnia, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, sexual harassment, and even suicide. Any other product that caused serious harm to over 10% of teens would face a series of government bans, but social media has largely “gotten away with it.”
The final question is whether users wish social platforms and products “had never existed.” Five products had relatively low percentages: YouTube (15%), Netflix (17%), the Internet (17%), messaging apps (19%), and smartphones (21%). This shows that Generation Z views the basic communication, storytelling, and information retrieval functions of the internet more positively. If smartphones were only used to send messages, watch movies, search for practical information, or watch entertaining videos—without algorithms designed to make users addicted—Generation Z might not feel so much regret. But when it comes to the social platforms that worry both parents and children, attitudes are vastly different. Many users wish these products had never existed: Instagram (34%), Facebook (37%), Snapchat (43%), and the biggest offender, X (50%).
Reducing Social Media Addiction
The latest study shows that Generation Z is aware of the ongoing risks and costs of social media. Most of them want to use higher-quality, safer platforms; many believe social media is not suitable for teenagers. 45% of Generation Z respondents said they “would not allow their kids to have phones before high school,” and 57% felt parents should limit their children’s phone use before then. Although only 36% of respondents opposed a law banning social media use for children under 16, 69% supported legislation mandating social media companies to create a “teen mode” for minors.
This broad consensus across race, gender, and social class is significant for the U.S. House of Representatives, which is considering drafting the “Children’s Online Safety Act.” The act would require social media platforms to reduce their addictive features, develop non-algorithmic content recommendations for teenagers, and offer default safety options for young users.
Certainly, as a communication platform, social media must adhere to the requirements of the First Amendment, and Congress plans to ensure this by focusing on the content recommended to teens by algorithms. But imagine the horror of more than one-third of young people wishing social media had never existed, while still spending five hours a day on it. If that’s the case, action should be taken to ensure producers make their products safer and less addictive. Social media companies should be treated no differently: If they can’t ensure safety for teenagers by improving their products, teens shouldn’t be allowed to use them.
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