This week, Cal Newport takes over the Infinite Scroll column.
In 1881, James Bonsack invented a machine that could make cigarettes automatically. This invention led to a rise in smoking across America. Parents worried as they saw young children, some as young as five, smoking. Concerned voices from newspapers emerged, like the L.A. Times, warning about this trend. As a result, states started to pass laws to prevent tobacco sales to minors. New Jersey was the first in 1883, followed by New York in 1886. By 1890, more than half the states had similar restrictions.
Fast forward to the 1950s—Tony the Tiger was created by Leo Burnett to promote Frosted Flakes to children. In 1973, nutritionist Jean Mayer spoke to the U.S. Senate about junk food, calling out sugary cereals and urging better regulations. He emphasized the dangers of advertising unhealthy foods to kids, labeling them “nutritional disasters.” However, his warnings did not lead to bans on junk food. Instead, schools saw some improvements in lunch nutrition, and new labeling rules were put in place. Still, advertisements targeting children remained unchecked.
Today, experts like Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, warn that social media could harm kids. She testified that platforms create issues like self-harm, especially among vulnerable groups like teenage girls. Increasingly, parents express concerns over their kids’ phone usage. In fact, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has suggested that social media should come with warning labels due to its potential mental health risks for teens.
Recent legislative efforts hint that our approach to social media is evolving. California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act aims to limit data collection on kids and encourages safer design features. Utah requires parental consent for children setting up accounts. New York’s law tackles content recommendations aimed at kids. However, these regulations are more about making social media safer rather than banning it outright.
In contrast, Australia has passed a groundbreaking law that bans social media use for anyone under 16. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram now have 12 months to develop strategies for enforcing this law or face hefty fines. Public support for this law is high, with a recent poll showing 77% backing it.
The real debate centers on whether social media is more harmful, like cigarettes, or simply unhealthy, like junk food. Cigarettes have faced outright bans due to their addictive nature and severe health risks. Junk food, on the other hand, is seen as something parents can manage. But do we treat social media as a similarly harmful product? Dr. Meg Jones, a specialist in communications and technology law, suggests it might share traits with tobacco. Social media lacks clear developmental benefits, and parents often feel helpless in guiding their children’s online habits.
Despite the evidence, many in the U.S. resist strict regulations. Legal challenges often arise, usually from industry groups, limiting the effectiveness of laws like Utah’s initial attempt. Yet, some states are pushing for stronger measures; Florida recently banned social media for kids under 14, a significant step.
Looking ahead, Dr. Jones believes we may see strong restrictions on social media for children soon. She thinks age verification measures will pass legal scrutiny, leading to several new state laws. This is a sign that society is open to discussing serious actions against social media’s impact on kids.
Meanwhile, recent political maneuvers have raised awareness about the implications of social media bans. A brief bipartisan ban on TikTok highlighted public concerns—not just about its business practices, but also about its effects on young users. The notion of restricting access to social media may no longer feel taboo. Times are changing, and the conversation around protecting children online is becoming urgent.
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social media,government regulation,teen-agers,technology
