Meta gearing up for accountability season
Demand is rising for social networking companies to change
Digitally Exhausted came to be because I wanted a place to share my thoughts on tech’s societal impact. My writing covers social media’s spaghetti-like complexities, Big Tech, and action steps to balance digital life.
Reading (or listening) to Digitally Exhausted, I hope you become inspired to design the digital life you want, not default or “opt-in” to one.
If you’re interested in these topics, and down to stick around, subscribe 😊
Pssssst… To the listeners tuning in, I talk slowly. If slow talkers are not your thing, I suggest increasing the voiceover speed to 1.5x.
‘Tis the season for accountability. If you have not heard, 41 States are suing Meta, claiming their apps are addictive and harm children—I am proud to say South Carolina (my home State) is one of them.
Whistleblower Frances Haugen got the ball rolling in 2021 sharing internal documents containing the harm their applications cause, notably Instagram’s effect on young girls and their body image. Reading the federal complaint (which you can find in the above hyperlink), State Attorneys General want accountability through restitution and a change to the social networking company’s business model.
The connection between social media use and poor mental health in young adults is not a new topic. On the other hand, social media is also seen as beneficial because of its ability to create avenues for all types of communities, big and small, to come together and connect. Social media is a double-edged sword.
On this side of the pond, Ireland is also on the path toward holding social networking companies accountable with the Online Safety Commissioner in the process of creating a “new binding online safety code aimed at reducing harmful content online and will require social media platforms to take measures to do so. A failure to comply may lead to criminal or civil sanctions.” I find this especially fascinating because Dublin is a major tech hub housing not only Meta, but TikTok, Google, and many more tech giants.
My digitally exhausted self is annoyed with the fact Meta has moved forward with its digital wellness initiatives after the fact. Meta’s blog does have an education hub located in its family center but I find the effort a little too late.
Why does change have to happen after tragedy, or in this case, after shocking information is revealed thanks to a blown whistle?
Maybe I am being a salty saltine but the digital wellness page looks a bit thrown together. Opening it up, the main photo does not seem to fit with the copy, “Help your family build positive digital habits to make the most of their time online.” Or perhaps this is me being knit-picky from my content review days.
Meta’s family center has many blog posts from Modeling Good Digital Behaviors to Finding Balance Online which contain helpful information.
However, Meta having this family center is kinda like if Marlboro had blog posts about how to quit smoking—it doesn’t feel right.
There is also a page dedicated to parents supervising their teen’s Instagram, containing links to helpful blog posts, outside resources, and their own parental guide to help teens safely navigate Instagram.
Meta’s effort to inspire digital wellbeing is there but is it for the right reasons?
Change goes both ways
Humor me for a second… Imagine social media right now, at this moment, has a different business model: one without the “dopamine-manipulating recommendation algorithms” valuing people over profits.
If this was our situation today, children would still open up Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or whatever go-to app their thumbs are drawn to. Why? Because our brain craves distraction and rewards us for finding it. This includes adults too.
(Learn more about the brain and our happy chemicals.)
We want to be stimulated. Whether it is listening to a podcast, driving with music blaring, or watching the news while cooking dinner, we seek out stimulation (our need to be entertained).
Social networking companies need to change but so do we. There needs to be education about our devices and the brain while connecting to our goals and values. If we can educate adults (parents, teachers, corporate employees, politicians), we can help children develop better digital habits.
So while accountability season is exciting, it is going to take education, inspiration, and reflection to create long-lasting change.
What digital habit do you want to change and why?
Wherever you are, be there ✨
Autumn tea dance. Yesterday we had our Autumn tea dance and I had one of the best dances I have had in a while. If you are not a dancer, I’ll describe swing dancing as a musical playground. And when you have a lead that gives you the space to play around with musicality—some leads do not—it is incredible.
Until next time,
Wherever you are, be there.