The affirmative answer to the question posed in the title of this article is provided by the fact that Safer Internet Day (SID) already exists   .    Celebrated worldwide  on February 7th each year, Safer Internet Day was the theme for this year’s edition, “Together for a better internet . ” The goal of this day is to promote the safe and responsible use of technology, especially by children and young people. However, SID is also aimed at other sectors of the population: parents, educators, and social workers. Furthermore, it encourages businesses, organizations, and policymakers to collaborate in creating a better internet. This day is also dedicated to the safety of social networks, since networks are structures formed on the internet by people or organizations that connect based on shared interests or values. We could say that the crux of the matter, or of SID, is determining what we mean by a better internet.

It must be acknowledged that technology and social media have changed the way men and women operate in our time. Specifically, they improve communication, facilitate new forms of learning, and enhance access to knowledge. However, the need to use everything the digital world offers responsibly becomes increasingly evident. Using it wisely will help us develop not only as good students (in the case of children and young people) or good professionals, but also as good people.

Today, it is a reality that the Internet and social networks are still not a safe place, especially for children and young people.

Today, it’s a reality that the internet and social media are still not a safe place, especially for children and young people. Proof of this lies in the recent lawsuits filed by the  109 public schools in Seattle’s largest school district against tech giants Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), ByteDance (owner of TikTok), Alphabet (parent company of YouTube), and Snapchat, for fostering   addictive use   of their respective social media platforms among children and young people. An addiction manifests when, for various reasons, a person focuses exclusively on a single activity (which can be either a cause or an effect of the addiction) and risks becoming addicted to that behavior. The two main characteristics of an addiction are loss of control and dependence. What an addicted person seeks is relief from their emotional distress, that is, trying to banish boredom, loneliness, anger, confusion, or nervousness. This whole mix fosters escapist, avoidant, or anonymous behaviors. Specifically, the three main cyber areas where these behaviors occur are   websites with pornographic or violent content , gaming and betting sites, etc.

The plaintiffs accuse tech companies of   exploiting young people’s minds , arguing that social media algorithms are designed to keep them   hooked and exposed to content harmful   to their physical and mental health. The “hook” of social media, as psychiatrists point out, stems from both its brevity and immediacy. This “hook” appears to be linked to an increase in dopamine, which is associated with a reward or pleasure circuit and can produce effects similar to those of cocaine or other drugs. This has led to a significant rise in depressive disorders, eating disorders such as anorexia, self-harm, and suicide. It’s worth noting that Frances Haugen, a former Meta employee, stated that the company’s executives are aware that excessive Instagram use by young people increases the likelihood of developing depression.

The schools filing the lawsuit argue that   mental health problems   negatively impact their students’ academic performance, classroom behavior, absenteeism, and addictions. Social media platforms employ various mechanisms, such as  scrolling  and  double-checking , among others, to promote addictive use. As we have already pointed out, the danger of addiction is compounded by the danger of content, as it is rarely harmless for young people. Studies show that the algorithms of some social networks have been configured to lead young people into so-called “burrows,” where harmful content appears, such as advertisements for pornography or sadomasochistic practices, etc. It should also be noted that social media causes isolation, leaving many young people without friends, and is a form of escapism that, while seemingly harmless, can end badly.

In addition to risks such as addiction, harmful content, or mental health problems, one must consider the lack of privacy and the amount of information that social media algorithms extract from their users.

In addition to the risks already mentioned, such as addiction, harmful content, isolation, and mental health problems, we must consider the lack of privacy and the amount of information that social media algorithms extract from their users.   Regarding privacy, M. Zuckerberg of Meta already stated that it must become obsolete . And concerning the second point, it’s worth remembering that a social network can collect, in just a few hours, more data about a young person’s interests than their parents could ever imagine. This information is then used by the algorithm to keep them engaged.

The complaints filed by Seattle schools are based on a state law,  the Washington Public Nuisance Law , which penalizes “activities that harm public health, expose users to offensive content, or impede the comfortable enjoyment of life.” However, the tech companies are attempting to absolve themselves of any responsibility by invoking the following principle: “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or spokesperson of information provided by another information content provider.” All social media users should be aware of this last principle, but the reality is quite different. Most young people don’t realize that a social media account is a space that one rents and that can cease to be theirs from one day to the next; in other words,   a social media account belongs to the platform’s creator .

The schools that filed the lawsuit maintain that   the tech companies’ business model is to keep young people hooked , which leads to a decline in their mental health and prevents schools from fulfilling their educational role. The platforms’ raison d’être is to provide commercial content, not cultural or educational content. Young people and schools are a “gold mine” for these tech companies.

It is very important that parents and educators help teenagers to discern truth, goodness, beauty, and everything that can help them become people who can provide a good service to society.

It is certainly true that students with mental health problems have poorer academic performance, which forces schools to hire more mental health professionals, develop prevention plans regarding the dangers of social media use, and strengthen teacher training. Therefore, they are asking the court to order companies to stop causing harm and to pay for preventative education and treatment resulting from the harmful use of social media.

The reports from Seattle schools should remind us that   prevention efforts at home and at school are fundamental . Ultimately, it’s about helping young people enjoy the enormous possibilities offered by new technologies, but we must also make them aware of the   risks   and understand that their lives shouldn’t revolve around digital media. For this, it’s crucial that parents and educators strengthen teenagers’ willpower, share activities with them, and help them discern truth, goodness, beauty, and everything that can help them become individuals who contribute positively to society, in the face of the constant barrage of ideas they are subjected to. Undoubtedly, only in this way will we achieve responsible use of the internet and social media, or a  truly safe internet .

Article published in  El Confidencial