Instagram & Facebook Are Addictive For Children

Uploaded on 2024-06-17 in FREE TO VIEW, TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Social Media

The European Union is now investigating Meta the parent company of Facebook and Instagram over whether they are so addictive that they are having "negative effects" on the "physical and mental health" of children. The EU will also review if they have done enough to check whether users are old enough to use them, and how content is recommended to children.

A number of big tech firms are now being investigated for any breaches of the EU's new Digital Services Act (DSA), and firms could be fined up to 6% of annual global turnover.

Meta, which owns both platforms, says it has over the last ten years created more than 50 tools and policies to help to protect children. "This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission," it said. "The Commission is concerned that the systems of both Facebook and Instagram, including their algorithms, may stimulate behavioural addictions in children, as well as create so-called 'rabbit-hole effects'," the EU has said.

Rabbit-hole effects refer to the propensity of algorithms, when a user looks at one piece of harmful content, to suggest more of the same.

How Meta checks the ages of users, so called age assurance, is concerning the EU. "In addition, the Commission is also concerned about age-assurance and verification methods put in place by Meta", the statement added.

Algorithms which promote harmful content are a major concern of the British communications watchdog Ofcom as it sets out how it may enforce the Online Safety Act.

Like many social networks, users of Meta platforms must be 13 or over, but as Ofcom has said many much younger children use accounts and sometimes even with the knowledge of their parents.Meta was already under investigation by the European Commission over potential DSA violations related to deceptive advertising and political content.

In a statement, Meta said that it has spent “a decade developing more than 50 tools, features and resources” to protect young people.

The company also faces a second European investigation into its handling of Russian disinformation. "We want young people to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online and have spent a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies designed to protect them," said a Meta spokesperson. “This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, which is why we’re continuing to advance industry-wide solutions to age-assurance that are applied to all apps teens access,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission.”

Breaking an addiction to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can be challenging, but it is definitely possible with the right strategies and mindset. Here are some tips that may help you reduce or eliminate your dependence on these platforms:

Set specific goals: Define clear and achievable goals for reducing your social media usage. For example, you could aim to limit your time on these platforms to a certain number of minutes per day or gradually decrease your usage over time.

Track your usage: Use apps or features on your phone to track how much time you spend on Facebook and Instagram each day. Seeing the actual amount of time you dedicate to these platforms can be a wake-up call and motivate you to cut back.

Create boundaries: Establish specific times or situations when you are allowed to use social media. For example, you could designate certain hours of the day for checking your accounts or decide not to use social media during meals or before bed.

Remove triggers: Identify what triggers your urge to check social media and try to eliminate or minimise these triggers. For example, if seeing notifications prompts you to open these apps, consider turning off notifications or silencing your phone.

Find alternative activities: Replace the time you would typically spend on social media with other activities that you enjoy or that are beneficial to your well-being, such as exercising, reading, spending time with loved ones, or pursuing a hobby.

Engage in mindful activities: Practice mindfulness techniques such as meditation or deep breathing to help you become more aware of your impulses to use social media and learn to manage them more effectively.

Seek support: Share your goal of reducing social media use with friends or family members who can provide encouragement and hold you accountable. You could also consider joining online or in-person support groups for individuals looking to break their social media addiction.

Delete the apps: Consider temporarily deleting the Facebook and Instagram apps from your phone or using website blockers on your computer to make it more difficult to access these platforms impulsively.

Reflect on the benefits: Remind yourself of the reasons why you want to reduce your social media usage, such as reclaiming your time, improving your mental health, or fostering deeper connections with others.

Seek professional help: If you find it challenging to reduce your social media usage on your own, consider seeking support from a therapist who can help you develop personalised strategies for managing your addiction.

Breaking an addiction takes time and effort and experts say is is okay to occasionally relapse. The important thing is to make steady progress towards the goal of reducing reliance on social media.

Image: Unsplash

You Might Also Read:

Shielding Your Teen's Digital Footprint:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.