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Banning social media isn't the answer — Adam Kovacevich – Jacksonville Journal-Courier

Virtually every teenager in America is . That's a good thing — just ask the teens.

A new survey from Pew Research Center shows that most teens say strengthens their friendships, engages their creative side, and connects them with support. But as our nation debates how to make online experiences healthier for young people, those benefits are being overlooked and a concerning wave of legislation threatens to prevent teens from using social media altogether.

Panic over teens using new types of media is an old story. In the 1980s, activist parents organized to shut down local arcade rooms over concerns about kids' health. In the 1990s, the country turned its attention to the dangers of . Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it's clear that arcades and Mortal Kombat never posed an inherent risk to teen health. But as with all activities, there was such a thing as problematic use.

The same can be said of teenagers' experiences on social media. What we've learned from countless over the last several years is while a majority of teens feel supported through the connections they build online, some teenagers fall into a cycle of harmful use. It's essential to have a thoughtful national conversation about how to support and protect those minors who struggle with the overuse or misuse of social media.

But legislators are drawing the wrong conclusions about how to protect teens in the digital world. A new flurry of legislation threatens to ban kids entirely from social media. Introduced in Congress and in several states, these bills ignore the benefits that social media can provide.

The American Psychological Association, for example, notes that young people form and maintain friendships online and that social media can afford opportunities to interact with a more diverse peer group. Other research shows kids who use texting and social media over TV and games benefit from more physical activity, less family conflict and fewer sleep problems.

While banning all teens from social media has obvious drawbacks, another collection of bills monitoring and chaperoning kids' behavior online doesn't fare much better. The Kids Act, for example, is a well-intentioned effort to protect kids, but in practice, it would make it harder for millions of teens to access the internet and threaten the privacy of everyone online, adults included.

Then there's the effect it would have on kids seeking information online. At a time when more schools and libraries are restricting access to information on gender and sexual identity and health , online resources are often the last and only source of help.

Parental monitoring can and should be done responsibly, but for older children and especially for those in abusive situations at home, the restrictions would be invasive and risk putting them in even more danger. By ramping up blanket restrictions and surveillance online, the plan threatens to jeopardize the privacy and safety of vulnerable young people.

Dozens of civil rights groups and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations agree, including Advocates for Youth, the American Civil Liberties Union, The Human Trafficking Prevention Project, and the LGBT Technology Partnership. In fact, more than 90 civil rights organizations urged Congress to rethink the ban and the harm it would cause to children and adults in multiple open letters.

There is a right way to create a healthier world for kids online. Just as we would help young people navigate situations in the physical world, it's our job to help kids navigate the internet safely and responsibly in the same way. Creating a safer internet for children requires intentional work to educate, supervise and safeguard their online experience without depriving them of the critical benefits that internet access can bring.

Lawmakers can and should protect everyone on the internet by cracking down on harmful actors and establishing safeguards, regardless of age without affecting our rights to privacy or ability to seek safe and trusted spaces online.

Adam Kovacevich is a tech policy strategist based in Washington. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

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PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

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EYES ON TRAFFICKING

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.