Commentary by Elliott Brack | Most people deplore the constant use of cell phones by children (and some adults), thinking that this is harming them, and keeping them away from better activity. But what to do about this growing problem?
No one yet has come up with the solution to this question.
But one country has recently taken a step in that direction.
The Australian government is taking on this problem. That government is not aiming at the users involved, mainly the kids, but focusing its attention on the companies operating these platforms! What a novel approach, to focus on the industry itself!
The whole idea is to protect the mental health and well-being of children from the detrimental effects of social media. Cited among the problems that the children face are online hate and bullying.
It’s how the government will go about this that is innovative. The Australian government wants the social media companies themselves to find ways to prevent those under age 16 from having an account to access these platforms.
But notice that it is up to the companies providing the platforms, and making money from the operation of these platforms, that the Australian government is focusing on.
“You make the money from this, you fix the problem,” the government is saying.
Recognize that the Australians are not telling the platform companies how to do this. These companies are smart enough to find a solution, the government feels, so let them have at it in order to protect the well-being of younger children.
Also note that the children and the parents in Australia will not face any punishment if they use social media. While you suspect that children will find some ways to get around this new restriction, the focus remains on the platform providers.
Will this work? Who can tell? However, Australia is a country of 26 million people, about twice the population of Georgia with 11 million people. Australia is small enough so that if it can find a way around this problem, they will have done yeoman service to show the rest of the world one way to attack this situation.
In the rest of the world, the computer age and social media have exploded and surprised people with its far-reaching power. This new way to communicate is a mighty force…..but not necessarily always for good.
The world is just recognizing some of the pitfalls and advantages of this new age of communicating to one another. Up to now, there has not been much governmental effort of control of this phenomenon. But the world is recognizing that this new method needs some form of regulation.
Also don’t overlook the political nature of this communicating. Today modern warfare is not in trenches and aerial assaults, but in nations trying to influence politics in other countries through these platforms.
The Australians are showing us one way to tackle the problems caused by social media. It’s up to these platform companies to make sure their work is being done for the overall common good.
Thank you, Australia.
Longtime Georgia newspaperman Elliott Brack is editor and publisher of GwinnettForum.com.
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