Why is it acceptable for social media to damage children as predicted in the then innovative entertainment industry of almost by 100 years ago?
In June 1929, William Seabury, the former General Council to the Motion Picture Board of Trade and the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, wrote a 2-page letter to the Hon. Kenneth R. Mcintosh at the Temple of Justice warning of the consequences of the potential negative impact on the youth of America of as featured in motion pictures.
And today we have a parallel situation.
In 2024, though disputed by the social media companies themselves, these companies have abrogated their responsibilities, ditching any form of Duty of Care, in favor of the children and their parents self-policing content. The result of which is general bullying, exposure to sexual content, grooming and dangerous stunts.
And while the arguement goes back and forward as to who is responsible for any damage done, the social media companies claimingthat they are 'doing what they can,' Artificial Intelligence is being deployed to make thier sites even more sticky, and therefore more dangeous to the world's youth.
As Nelson Mandela said when he launched the Children's Fund in South Africa in May 1995, " There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."
BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE INTERNET
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