Social Media Platform For Kids

[Uncrowned Guard]

So recent news (linked below) has Facebook developing an Instagram just for kids under 13 (being that once they are 14, they can just join the "adult" social media platforms).  However this is raising a lot of concern across the board with many seeming to believe that young children are not properly prepared to be on social media and even studies being done to show that almost half of younger users on social media are already being cyberbullied. 

One counter point to this concern is the fact that many young children are already using social media before they are of age and it would be safer for those kids to use a dedicated platform.

I find myself at a crossroads on this one as I would be against a social media platform just for minors as I can see too many problems arising and if children and parents put their trust into the platform, then malicious users can be lead to horrible outcomes.  Perhaps I would be more for the idea if it wasn't Facebook creating the platform as they do not have the best track record at protecting children on their current platforms, but I do see their point in the fact that young children are already (and have been for decades) using the internet before turning 14.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

 

 

[Paige]

Oh this is such a tough topic!  I would find the idea super smart and helpful to kids who need a stepping stone before real social media, but it can be abused and that scares me.

[Uncrowned Guard]

It sounds like the project is "paused" at the moment after some stern government feedback.  Oddly this comes as my view on the topic turns more turns supporting a platform like this.  Facebook has the tools and money to provide a very strict environment for children and kids need to learn about social media before they jump on at 14 and ruin their lives with a dumb picture or post. 

[ZandraJoi]

I believe in moderation but the majority of people don't. When I was younger, kids were limited how much TV time we could watch. Parents don't seem to limit them on phones, computer, & sites such as Social Media. Not to mention cyberbullying took bullying to a whole new level where it wasn't just one person who could do damage but they could mass send it to many others.

Another thing, nobody knows who is real or not online. So many kids have thought they were speaking to someone their own age but it was someone much older. There's no moderating.

[Uncrowned Guard]

14 minutes ago, ZandraJoi said:

I believe in moderation but the majority of people don't. When I was younger, kids were limited how much TV time we could watch. Parents don't seem to limit them on phones, computer, & sites such as Social Media. Not to mention cyberbullying took bullying to a whole new level where it wasn't just one person who could do damage but they could mass send it to many others.

Another thing, nobody knows who is real or not online. So many kids have thought they were speaking to someone their own age but it was someone much older. There's no moderating.

Moderation is a major concern.  It is actually the biggest reason that I would not consider making an Uncrowned Kids website or anything of the sort.  The moderation would have to be both super invasive and massive in numbers to keep it safe for the kids and even then terrible things can still happen.  Odds are AI will be needed for it to work correctly and I can't say that AI moderation is ready for a major product like this.