I keep seeing that this will limit the time on "the app." Is the time restriction linked to the teen account or to the app? In other words, would the time restriction prevent the teen from logging into instagram through the web browser on their phones or other devices?
That is a GREAT question, Tiffany. I don't know the answer. I'll see if I can track it down -- and if anyone who reads this finds info, please share it!
Great summary, Catherine. But I'll join you in the cynicism. Because what we're doing is celebrating a decision to show less explicit content to seventh graders, disallow strangers from talking to seventh graders, and encouraging seventh graders to get enough sleep. Wait, Instagram, why did that take 14 years? And how did you convince us to celebrate slightly less negligence toward children? Almost feels like gaslighting.
I don't disagree with any of this overall, but for queer teens in unsupportive households, this type of oversight could shut off one of their only sources of community and connection. This population is one of the groups most positively impacted by social media, maybe the ONLY group positively impacted by social media, because it allows kids who feel completely alone to reach others like them. I worry for these kids whose parents now have even more power to isolate them. As a school librarian, the number one question I have been asked this year is about how to find the "rainbow" books ~ teens need support from every corner they can get, and for many teens I know, online is how they find that community.
This is an interesting piece - thanks! I think the case about a teen whose account blew up like that is a bit of a non-issue for most teens I know, and private accounts would definitely solve that problem. The issue I take with this is the additional parental oversight that lets parents see exactly what topics their child is viewing and who they communicated with. I don’t worry about this with kids from supportive families, but for those who need any lifeline possible, I do, even just in situations like following queer musicians and artists and queer support accounts. This is an incredibly nuanced discussion, and I have three teenagers myself who are experiencing living online in very different ways. I just know as an educator that more parental oversight, for some kids, is not a safe thing. Less time online, that would be great. Of course, having all adults be supportive, and all spaces safe for queer kids would be a million times better than any social media - if that were the case, ban social media all together.
I keep seeing that this will limit the time on "the app." Is the time restriction linked to the teen account or to the app? In other words, would the time restriction prevent the teen from logging into instagram through the web browser on their phones or other devices?
That is a GREAT question, Tiffany. I don't know the answer. I'll see if I can track it down -- and if anyone who reads this finds info, please share it!
Great summary, Catherine. But I'll join you in the cynicism. Because what we're doing is celebrating a decision to show less explicit content to seventh graders, disallow strangers from talking to seventh graders, and encouraging seventh graders to get enough sleep. Wait, Instagram, why did that take 14 years? And how did you convince us to celebrate slightly less negligence toward children? Almost feels like gaslighting.
I don't disagree with any of this overall, but for queer teens in unsupportive households, this type of oversight could shut off one of their only sources of community and connection. This population is one of the groups most positively impacted by social media, maybe the ONLY group positively impacted by social media, because it allows kids who feel completely alone to reach others like them. I worry for these kids whose parents now have even more power to isolate them. As a school librarian, the number one question I have been asked this year is about how to find the "rainbow" books ~ teens need support from every corner they can get, and for many teens I know, online is how they find that community.
https://www.afterbabel.com/p/tech-hypocrisy
This is an interesting piece - thanks! I think the case about a teen whose account blew up like that is a bit of a non-issue for most teens I know, and private accounts would definitely solve that problem. The issue I take with this is the additional parental oversight that lets parents see exactly what topics their child is viewing and who they communicated with. I don’t worry about this with kids from supportive families, but for those who need any lifeline possible, I do, even just in situations like following queer musicians and artists and queer support accounts. This is an incredibly nuanced discussion, and I have three teenagers myself who are experiencing living online in very different ways. I just know as an educator that more parental oversight, for some kids, is not a safe thing. Less time online, that would be great. Of course, having all adults be supportive, and all spaces safe for queer kids would be a million times better than any social media - if that were the case, ban social media all together.