Social media ban: follow Australia's example?
Protect children from rampant capitalism
Star praises Turkey's planned social media ban for children under 15:
“Let's not turn this issue into a conflict between the government and the opposition. ... This is not about restricting freedom. It does not restrict our children's right to access the opportunities offered by the Internet in the digital age. What should be restricted, banned and punished are the global digital platforms that prey on our children, set traps for them and seek to make profit from them. ... We need to build a clean digital world and combat the newly organised, rampant capitalism that is constantly changing its tools and forms.”
The individual needs state back-up here
Maria José Fuenteálamo, a columnist for the conservative daily ABC, heartily approves of the Spanish government's push for a social media ban in Spain:
“I haven't heard so many congratulations among parents in a long time. The announcement has met with general approval. ... One might ask why we need a state ban at all when there is such consensus. ... The answer defines our era and perhaps all eras: individuals cannot do it alone, they need the state. ... We may criticise the nanny state for interfering with what's on our screens, but in this case the meddling is welcome. ... I even see it as a compelling reason to vote for Sánchez.”
Insufficient scientific basis
El País is sceptical:
“There isn't much previous experience with such experiments. ... There isn't even a scientific consensus. ... A recent study examined the development of 25,000 children aged 11 to 14 over a period of three years and concluded that neither social media nor video games were related to the deterioration in their mental health. ... But it is clear that such media promote violence, bullying, sexualisation, polarisation, cheating and addiction among minors for profit. ... There is truth to the claim that social networks are atrocious, but the question posed by a 15-year-old Australian quadriplegic in The Guardian is also justified: 'What about those who are isolated?'”
Let the next generation decide
Governments should direct their efforts towards education rather than bans, says Maszol:
“No law has been passed stipulating that small children are not to fiddle with electric sockets, but they've learned the dangers of doing so at home. ... Rather than setting a legal age limit, children should be taught safe behaviour. ... For those of us who were not socialised in this environment, social media can be incomprehensible. But perhaps the growing new generation, which already has a better understanding of the issue, will bring in legislation that really helps to prevent tragedies and make things safer. Provided, of course, that we educate them in the meantime.”