Social Media Killed Gen Alpha. Here's Why.

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[@GEN]

Would love to hear your guys thoughts on this video. Is interent addiction going to ruin our next generation? Let's start a thread 👇 NOTE: We received feedback on our thumbnail (we have been testing multiple) and point received. Like almost all of our thumbnails, we use raw screenshot images from our interviews that we will edit/color correct to make it pop. and or use image enhancers to upscale the image If you want to see the raw screenshot we took for the thumbnail, the link is in description. However, with that said, we decided that it is in the best interest now to not use that thumbnail as after reflection, I believe can look distasteful and make a parent, who shared a very vulnerable story, look desperate. Like I said at the end of the video, I'm still trying to balance finding that balance of impact over views and it's still a work in progress. Appreciate ya'll feedback - we have the best / smartest community on YT for real. If we're going to be the next big middle ground media company, I need to continue attracting an audience that will call me out when we slip.

[@Kilometer-nz5yj]

I think the next generation will adapt and get used to being on the internet so much

[@marcuscho1166]

It really depends on how the people deal with it, even though internet addiction changes as time goes on.

[@Wulfstan1938]

Home schooling seems to help with this... I feel like my homeschooled side of my family is nothing like my family who like me went to school and you're kinda peer pressured into going on social media and all that crap.

[@anma1072]

I would have liked to see more responsibility placed on the parents (I know it was briefly mentioned) like you did with devil's advocate for the drug dealers. As a (hopefully) future parent, I would want my kids to have a very regulated (by me) social media. They probably won't have social media

[@lpwlpw4075]

Btw it says harward not Harvard in the thumbnail

[@0Ciju0]

"Banning social media for kids under 14" Social Media: "Enter your age" 13 Year old Kid: "14."

[@mgntstr]

retinal scan to accept cookies

[@mandarue5104]

I did that when facebook first came out. It's not a foolproof plan.

[@FleshWizard69420]

I suggest 16. The mind is a little more developed, and teens can still have a little bit of fun

[@sfwcommenting]

Somewhat related, I knew way too many 15, 16yo girls in high school pretending to be 18 up for tinder

[@saturnianrings3920]

Drivers licenses

[@dustincato6226]

I feel for those parents, I really do, but I cannot get behind them solely blaming Snapchat. You are the parent, it's your job to safeguard your children. You absolutely could have kept your children off of it.

[@Dog_in_tree]

So you expect parents to prohibit their 17 year olds from using snapchat? I'm sure they thought they were using it to contact friends, not drug dealers.

[@Frankiigii]

They did actually say that it was their responsibility and they failed. But SM absolutely has a role to play. Ultimately you should not let your children have access to it

[@chunceybenjamin6832]

There's so much they can do. Imagine if they became more overprotective people would start accusing them of being "helicopter parents."

[@skeedamacknn]

Mmmm yes and no here’s the thing I have a coworker who took her kids phone her daughter is 14 she hid the app cause she saw it in social media how to hide apps from parents. And so she then parent controlled her daughters phone and they figured a way to get around it. And they she saw on social media ADULTS telling kids that’s it’s abuse to take their child’s phone away and even school will say these things as well

[@yota8325]

​@@skeedamacknnyep in alot of cases the kids can outsmart the parent to get back on social media

[@wolfpack4128]

We started to become paranoid at the places our kids physically visit while completely ignoring the places they visit virtually. Now kids stay stuck in the house with access to the worst people in the world instead of just the neighborhood. And it is all done in the name of "safety".

[@Random20946]

Exaclty how my mom is. My phone s disabled and I can't go outside. Like literally not allowed to . She complains im on my phone too much while not letting me be a kid and enjoy a day with friends because shes too scared to let me go for reasons she wont even say.

[@reanschwarzer2187]

Yep creeps at the park so they can just talk to people online genius idea we came up with. Kids never do anything themselves so they never devolve to adults then we go o why are these 28 year olds still kids well frankly they only got real world independence at 22-25 after college now they need 5-10 years in the real world to really grow up

[@aster3907]

YUP

[@jordanphilipperris]

@@Random20946 Maybe she needs to watch this video... When I was a kid (Mid 80s to early 90s) it was common for us to go outside with no one even batting an eye, even when we walked alone. I get there are bad people out there and that stuff happens, but when doing the math, it is for sure safer to be outside without a phone/tablet/etc. You have a little over 8 billion people alive today, and 1% of that is roughly 80 million, and oftentimes news channels have to report on issues outside of their own country to be able to cover shocking news stories which in of itself speaks volumes as to how "Dangerous" it is out there.

[@AnekoGT]

​@@Random20946 your mother wants you to know what it feels like to be in a penitentiary? Wtf.

[@amandaboettiger1379]

i was allowed instagram at 13 bc the app says 12+, BUT my dad checked my followers, followings, and messages and forced me to make my account private and monitored all my posts and stories. I was not allowed to post bikini pics or things similar. He did the same with my TikTok account and never let me post in my school uniform or showing the view from my room window. I am now 17 and he does not monitor me that way anymore, but i am glad he did.

[@samanimations2002]

It was a good thing he did, he saved you from a lot and relieved the restrictions as you got older

[@lazerbubbles3630]

❤❤❤

[@Syren.024]

W dad ❤

[@theriasthingschristinerosa5663]

I do the same with my 16 year old. I was against joining tiktok because I never was interested in the account but she wanted one the moment she turned 13/14. So I did the responsible mom thing and made one myself just to watch her and monitor what she did. Same with her discord and and fortnight games which we play together from time to time anyway. And her overwatch as well. I know all her friends who she plays with, who she talks with, and when she's on as well as when she logs on and off. But that's what parents should do when they have kids who get on social media.

[@Windows10andNoaa]

Apple needs it to be changed to 13+

[@labitcoineragt3596]

I’m a parent of a teen boy. He doesn’t have access to his phone at night, he also doesn’t have access to social media apps. He simply doesn’t need it, that’s on us! He can communicate with friends I know through text. It’s not the governments job to police what our kids doing. It’s OUR job and we need to grow some balls and say “no son you do not need snap chat or access to the phone at odd hours at night”.

[@MM-jc7uv]

Did you introduce reading books to your kids as an alternative to phones? I’m only 21 but plan on having children, and I wonder what I can use as an alternative to having a phone. Reading really is the one thing I plan on introducing as early as possible in hopes to establish it as a hobby, but other than that I honestly don’t know.

[@danka1167]

To the one above me, make sure when they are 12-14 they continue to read. Because thats the age every avid reader quits, ensure they continue. If they are 15/16 reading, they’ll read the rest of their life

[@labitcoineragt3596]

@@MM-jc7uv yes since he was a baby, he continues to read. We’ve also encouraged music so he plays the piano and makes his own music. Equally important I think is imaginative/discovery good ol “play” he actually still plays outside with his best friends. They played all throughout covid and was never bored. He’s a pretty wholesome kid. He does have a phone for emergencies but he can only use it to call and text the numbers I put in the phone. So the phone is not a toy type of thing. I need him to be able to get ahold of me and viceversa when I’m not home or when he’s at school etc

[@Bozzyman2]

Imagine being a decent parent

[@labitcoineragt3596]

@@Bozzyman2 I’m more than a decent parent.

[@elizabethhh2460]

When I was younger, I was bitter that my parents wouldn't let me have social media, but now I'm so glad that they kept me off of it.

[@moni2606]

At what age did you have social media?

[@stealthproductionz6648]

I'm glad too. My parents did the same thing and welp, im better than I would've been if I had a tablet and phone shoved in my face most of my young life.

[@elizabethhh2460]

@@moni2606 when I moved out at 18, but I'm still not very active on it

[@Rojin_04]

@@moni2606 16, and I still only have pinterest & youtube.

[@helainanatasha7496]

I'm so happy too. I was taught the internet is a scary place and something to be afraid of and they were absolutely correct

[@Bozzyman2]

These people don’t spend enough time with their kids, they let the devices raise them. You gotta talk to your kids. Hug them.

[@vicegripp]

Literally. Damn shame.

[@CrackHeadDaddy]

Camping trips and amusement parks.

[@matthewcaldwell8100]

And why do you think that is? Do you think perhaps it's because literally everyone is being worked into the ground by employers who scoff at the idea work-life balance? Honestly, this pattern of blaming parental laxity has been used for everything that has ever happened to teens, from car crashes to teen pregnancy to social media.

[@vicegripp]

@@matthewcaldwell8100 I agree w/ you but again, the responsibility is on the individual ALLOWING the career to work them into the ground. If no one accepts the ridiculous work hours, a company will either fold or change. Everything in life comes down to a choice.

[@matthewcaldwell8100]

@@vicegripp Yeah, shame on those parents for being constrained by the need to provide for their families.

[@whyhellotherestranger]

It's easier to blame Snapchat than for these parents to admit they should have been more active in their child's life.

[@jubileeYAVEL]

2:06 18:04 19:59

[@Random20946]

@@jubileeYAVEL I understand that they admit that social media isnt the whole problem, but where is the blame for the children? (Also I'm a 15 yr old dude so I get wanting to try things) but buying off of snapchat is one of the stupidest things ive seen. It is the kids, parents, and dealers faults.

[@xoreign]

It's okay to say you didn't watch the video.

[@whyhellotherestranger]

@@xoreign So then say it because you clearly missed the point.

[@jubileeYAVEL]

@@gethelp6271 which one?

[@BloodSweatandFears]

It’s definitely not just kids being ruined by social media, it’s everyone. Social media was a terrible idea.

[@ST-rj8iu]

no it wasn't. life sucked before social media. i have learned so many skills on social media. I learned how to cook and fix many things.

[@BloodSweatandFears]

@@ST-rj8iu We disagree, that’s ok. Books work just as well. Much better for our brains. But I will say long format videos on things like KZbin are not problematic, when I mean social media I mean the short form scrolling, mindless dopamine disrupting ones.

[@ST-rj8iu]

@@BloodSweatandFears we will disagree. I don't need a long winded answer. Short form content is simply efficient. Why spend 5 minutes to do something in 2 minutes? That is evolution. NO books don't work the same. I do much better with visual instruction. Not words on a page. If you like books, great keep doing them. I will listen to a podcast and absorb it better. So what if our attention spans are getting shorter? The school system is outdated. Kids could learn the same information in half the time. Instead we still have teachers using chalk.

[@BloodSweatandFears]

@@ST-rj8iu There’s plenty of research proving that short form scrolling content like TikTok and reels causes the brains dopamine system to be impacted similarly to cocaine and alcohol. Sure 5 or two minute videos are more efficient, but at what cost?

[@BloodSweatandFears]

@@ST-rj8iu Also the falling IQ shows that it isn’t exactly helping make our children any smarter.

[@xenochrist15]

“Social media needs to be safer.” No, parents need to be safer with what they choose to give their children access to.

[@jennprescott2757]

Y not both

[@xenochrist15]

Irresponsible adults don’t need to ruin it for responsible ones.

[@dehn6581]

@@xenochrist15 Like the irresponsible adults illegally selling drugs online through social media? I don't think we'd lose much for the responsible adults if social media sites cracked down that. I mean, I'm all for decriminalisation done well, but that's not through snapchat drug dealers.

[@xenochrist15]

@@dehn6581 The topic isn’t about illegal activities, but legal ones. Irresponsible adults ruin LEGAL activities for everyone.

[@aniiii_wxs]

both

[@_TheIlluminator_]

I can relate with the watching shorts and feeling guilty after these binges because I have ADHD and watching these shorts can be like quick dopamine hits, but they leave you feeling empty afterward. They can be addictive and attention grabbing but at the same time it can mess up your focus. It’s tough finding the right balance sometimes.

[@GEN]

i always feel guilty after watching shorts compared to watching long form with valuable content

[@oryxthetakenking8275]

It's completely destroyed my ability to focus. I would've failed my classes if I didn't get extra help to help break down my readings

[@sussyslurp]

I feel like short-form is almost designed to trap those with ADHD the excitement was so high I'd forget how It felt after.

[@SkyTowerKurogane]

You can add extentions that block shorts off your feed. I have done so. I don't have adhd and even then I fall prey to that stuff. I'm not sure you can get those on your phone though.

[@turboteg99]

That means ur acoustic

[@hime_nakahara]

"Everytime GEN uploads, societies IQ increases." - Harvard, probably.

[@GEN]

you damn right son

[@saras3587]

harvard is a joke now

[@tipsyt1909]

Nah, Harvard doesn’t like anyone playing devils advocate

[@TJSDU]

Harvard is a joke: ❌️❌️ I couldn't get into Harvard: ✅️✅️

[@melindaandkfir5195]

@@TJSDU its a joke

[@dylanr747123]

As a 28 year old father of 2, including a daughter- I am terrified of what social media and online usage will look like by the time they are teens. Intentional parenting is the key.

[@RevShifty]

And staying up to date with *everything* has to be just as much of a concern. You need to know what being various kinds of high looks like, what drugs are grabbing the most attention and making the rounds in your region at any given time, what their social media use is like, and still manage to raise competent, confident, caring, and intelligent children in the midst of it all. You need to educate them at what the real world is like, make sure you're always their safe harbor, and always know what's going on in the grittier parts of life at every turn. There's almost no margin of error anymore. I don't envy modern parents. At all.

[@osama_sorry-for_the_drama]

Soon there will be no one else that can control themselves take me as an example I'm 14 I go out with my friends in the forest I know it like the back of my hand and I usually play outside like we were meant to survive outside like u know what would happen if everyone just stayed inside all the time?

[@Jamhael1]

Problem is: humans do not have an instruction manual - and what you "claim" to be "correct" will be outdated by the time they are 5 years old.

[@hannahbaker3080]

Yeah, as parents we can choose to be “radical” and not give them smart phones, phones that just call and text are making a resurgence. Also look up things like the gizmo watch, they can only call or text people you have pre approved. No one else. Your child doesn’t need social media and especially doesn’t need open access to the internet. Passwords, reset your iPad or whatever and make the child ask you before they play a game, set time limits and don’t allow it every day

[@JordanMON]

Do you know who your kids friends are and what kind of individuals they are? You should get to know who your kids are hanging out with.

[@kathyharris1627]

I discovered a long time ago that social media was not going to be a positive thing for me. I got rid of all social media more than 10 years ago and I don't regret it for a second

[@jennprescott2757]

Same!

[@a.b.2405]

I honestly do not like it at all.

[@uriki1000]

What you said about shorts is spot on. My girlfriends housemates were completely addicted to tiktok. I used to do a test where, when they were scrolling I’d stop them and say tell me 3 of the 5 videos you saw in the last 30 seconds. Most of them could only recall the one I interrupted for the test

[@citlali_c]

as a 19 year old deleting social media has been one of the best decisions i’ve ever made. i really hope that more people start realizing how harmful these apps are and get rid of them as well

[@sugma148]

I call these issues and problems the ‘Pyramid of Blame’. The blame always falls on three people- the platform, the perpetrator, and the parents. The parents sit at the top of that pyramid.

[@grimnir2782]

Why the top?

[@sugma148]

@@grimnir2782because parents can control the media children consume, and how they process it. by spending time with them, they can prevent the majority of issues.

[@jennprescott2757]

@@sugma148you mean the base? The base is foundational?

[@goblinknitter]

Bro, the split screen made me laugh too hard . Love your work

[@SD-fj2mu]

I thought he was going to keep it up the whole video, I'm glad he didn't. It was so distracting 😂

[@Fredofbread]

It gave me a headache so I started listening to this as a podcast instead of a video. Good things to watch before school.

[@Kuimera]

I feel for these kids and their family but for me this goes back to that talk from the 80 and 90s.. "Ban violent movies because it is making kids violent" I watch all sort of violent movies when I was a kid and no way that made me like that today... I always come back to the "guns don't kill people, people kill people" because there is no way any parent can restrict their kids from this stuff, they don't use social media at home, they will elsewhere. We as parents need to teach our kids right from wrong and hope for the best. My heart goes to the families.

[@baarons93]

Thank you! They'll either use it elsewhere or they'll be socially outcast from a collective generational norm.

[@jennprescott2757]

Not true. Some parents parent their kids to understand the reasons behind what we should and should not do.

[@IWoSITheDirector]

The only bit that surprises me as someone who is a student of cybersecurity, is that TikTok monitors your keystrokes. They essentially just said that they have a keylogger on your device, so they know your passwords and whatever else you happen to type. This becomes especially terrifying once you realize that companies don't have a good track record for protecting user information. And why would they? They don't get punished to nearly the same extent that we do as the average joe, as they merely have to pay a pittance relative to the ridiculous amount of money that they make selling our data.

[@nervonabliss2071]

It's Chinese spyware disguised as entertainment. You may say US companies do the same with Meta and all, but they mostly use it for greed. There's no telling why a political adversary would want to have that kind of information, especially with little regulation on its use.

[@unstablesyn1306]

You'd be less surprised if you looked into who owns TikTok

[@IWoSITheDirector]

@@unstablesyn1306 I am well aware. I feel like applications like that should be screened for such activity before being allowed on app stores, but it has become so normal for companies to do that they won't.

[@swoopyeagle7102]

@@unstablesyn1306 whats wrong with a singaporean owning tiktok, we have no beef with singapore

[@henryblack323]

@@swoopyeagle7102 Chinese Gov.

[@itsccartoon]

The question is similar to "Does gun kill people". Although the internet, especially social media, nowadays usually exploits its users, I think the issue is more on the education system, not only for the kids but also for their parents. Even without the internet, those stupid people will find another way to ruin their life.

[@mgntstr]

a house built on solid rock stands tall for generations... the world insists that building on sand is just fine.

[@melindaandkfir5195]

Hot take they did drugs suffered from their choices

[@Kaybye555]

Not the same guns are not addictive. It's more equative (though not entirely) to parents who overfeed their children and they become obese. That's more like it

[@mickeymoose9368]

I am so thankful that my parents told me, “you can have a phone when you can pay for it yourself”, aka get a job. I decided against it and focused on my academics. I saved my money. I did not get a phone until I was 19 and am alive today to tell the tale, as much as modern parents may be shocked by that. I’m not a boomer, I’m young adult. I’m also a teacher. In my opinion, CHILDREN should not be given access to adult content because CHILDREN should be allowed to stay innocent for as long as possible before they step into the adult world. Seriously, and I can’t stress this enough, let kids be kids. Stop allowing the internet to raise them because of the temporary relief it provides. The long-term consequences are real.

[@tpsam]

Too bad this is such a political take because children need to be plugged in and connected immediately so they can be brainwashed into the propaganda

[@hansklok3564]

I was also the last person in my class with a phone. I thank my dad nowadays for his conservatisme towards smart phones. But back then you were not yet socially isolated not having a phone. That different nowadays.

[@andersgajczyk5226]

When were you born, because if you are like my age 1999, that is impressive to not have a phone until 19. Like even at my work I needed it

[@Not_Xpert]

As a gen alpha kid, I agree. The internet fucked me up bad. So many adult stuff I see is crazy.

[@mickeymoose9368]

@@andersgajczyk5226 I was born in 96

[@FANTOllVll]

I just can’t buy the fact that it’s all snapchats fault that your kid bought drugs and overdosed. I think they’re just struggling with the loss and that they should’ve been more present

[@yuliapanina8815]

I am absolutely sure that it's parent's fault. I grew up in a poor area where 80% of my classmates were taking drugs. I didn't. Why? Because my mom scared me enough not to. Today, half of my classmates are dead. I have a PhD in molecular biology. So IT IS ON PARENTS.

[@theakannibeauty]

Thank you. I am only two minutes in and already am rolling my eyes. If your child or anyone else wants to do drugs...they will. I am sympathetic as a Gen X mom with a millennial and gen alpha twins whose own mother died in addiction. However, this is the problem with society....let's blame instead of taking accountability or acceptance of the root of the issue.

[@yuliapanina8815]

@@theakannibeauty Nobody is responsible for your kid. Never was, never will be. If you say "society is responsible for my kid", you are a bad parent. Take it either way, God said that kid and parent relationship is more important than anything else, or evolution dictates that you must protect your progeny or sease to exist, either way, in practice, in reality, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your kid. Nobody else.

[@tonedowne]

While you are responsible for your kids, living in a society where young teens can just order up some opiates with no drama, is a hell of a wave to surf

[@FANTOllVll]

@@tonedowne I agree with you there. Maybe if the FBI and NSA were less concerned with parents at school board meetings and were looking at people blatantly selling schedule 1 narcotics online we would have less of an issue

[@jaminegs]

I work at the Great Wolf Lodge which is a family based hotel/ water park, and I work in the restaurants, and I see literal babies watching on iPads, my coworkers and I always talk about it and how they’re just so young to to be consuming media, usually KZbin, and I’m sure the blue light can’t be good for their eyes lol

[@Ari-355]

I was born early 2000s and looking back at my childhood I’m thankful that I can remember a time when we would play outside and go to our neighbors house to play w/ their kids. A time when going to Toys R Us and picking out ur favorite toy was a highlight and social media was in its early stages. Online video games w/ virtual worlds and cable TV was the only screen time we had access to. I think it’s great to have freedom to have access to the internet in the large numbers we have now but what good is that freedom if people in general, regardless of age or gender, end up getting hurt everyday. I really appreciate all the hard work u put in ur videos Gen ❤

[@AB-bc9tf]

There’s so much more than drugs that is a threat to kids with regard to the internet.

[@ninedude_yt_main]

What's important is "Digital Literacy". The more we can educated the youth about the harms present online and how they can protect themselves then the better we can do as an online society. We have to remember that media is a reflection of real life. I think the key is understanding how to calibrate one's personal algorithm to recommend healthy, thought-provoking and beneficial media.

[@jiveturkey2875]

It's more than digital literacy. I took my kids off of the net for spring break. They had to help out in the garden, learn what and how to plant, fertilize, and work every piece of equipment and tool needed. The persona change was so drastic (in a good way) that online activity is now off limits except for certain times. The mindless dopamine hit that online trash gives them doesn't compare the hits they get from actually accomplishing something positive in the real world.

[@mgntstr]

thought-provoking media, like... Pentecostal and Baptist content to equip them with the tools to navigate challenges of life.

[@Sure_You_Betcha]

I kind of agree, but there does need to be regulations and changes.

[@Kaybye555]

No matter how much you try to teach a kid, their brains are literally not ready to have such self.control. most adults don't, what makes you think kids can make such choices

[@ninedude_yt_main]

@@Kaybye555 Then we can limit kid's access to smart devices and flag harmful media. We can set up protections and systems that monitor our kids phones. Or simply ask the kids how they spend their time on the internet and to be open and honest with their parents. My point was there things we can do right now that makes the internet safer for everyone. It starts by making better choices online, as well as by understanding how technology works then we can make a better decisions and hopeful influence the algorithms that control the disruption of content to promote healthier content. Maybe this is a simplified holistic approach but it's a start. Do we need better laws that regulate social media platforms and hold them accountable for harmful online activity, most likely, but how do we find a balance between protection, free speech and regulation? It's a complex issue. Plus AI Generative Content like Deep-Fakes are only going to make this effort more challenging. I'm trying my best to understand this problem and think of possible solutions. Good Luck, friend. If you got any better ideas then feel free to get in on the discussion. Last thing, The EU recently passed the The EU AI Act which will hopeful set a standard model on how AI should be developed and regulated. That's all the news I got. Peace out.

[@Oohkamitama]

I remember when parents would actually try to target the problem before it happens by bringing drug awareness and stranger danger awareness into the classrooms of children instead of going straight to the social media service with a lawsuit.

[@ericredbear425]

Maybe they're doing both.

[@jacobstevens7046]

​@@ericredbear425Yeah. They are targeting part of the problem. And ironically, the negative impact of "stranger danger" and fear mongering of children being outdoors is part of why this problem is so bad.

[@beingemma]

As a parent of a 13 year old, I can say the pressure is huge. My daughter has been asking me for TikTok for 2 years now. We have always refused and continue. But this has led her to feel left out. It is a serious balancing act. I wish we could live off the grid all the time at times, but I use it for work and the media has helped me grow businesses etc. I can't 100% shame it but I also do not 100% support it either. Teaching kids the balance is extremely hard. You could be the most strict parent and in the end still loose them at 21 to social media if they do not understand how to control themselves which has many factors. It's just not a black and white issue, though sometimes I wish it was.

[@amanekaze]

I applaud how hard-working you are even when you try to tell your daughter for not having tiktok. With some of my personal experiences in tiktok, it is wise to tell her about the dangers of tiktok instead of "not having tiktok" in the first place. My addiction towards tiktok is still the same thing with yt shorts, explain to her why it's not good for her and let her understand how gen alpha won't able to live a normal life with social media. As for her peers and friends, it'd be better if you introduce her to relatives or other friends who can do traditionally and socially active. I have a cousin who is like that and I'm living in the same village as her since 5 years. The nature was nice although it didn't feel the same since the weather is getting too hot and I have photosensitivity, I only go out when it's cloudy or dark clouds, at least they are calming to me

[@daniella12hol]

Even just the fact that a 27 year old was able to create an account and pretend to be a 14 year old is scary

[@whyhellotherestranger]

Even scarier is that has been a thing since the 90s and parents still arent being proactive and teaching their kids how to safely use the internet.

[@aleckto28]

Thankyou Gen. your service to society is invaluable.

[@rockything]

This is why my kids will only be allowed to have flip phones until they are much older.

[@GEN]

i hear you but i wonder how realistic that is

[@rockything]

@@GEN I’m not saying they won’t have access to the internet- they will but on their computers and limited. I think constantly having access on phones definitely doesn’t help while their brains are developing. Just my thought though!

[@HabitualJoker]

One of Jonathan Haidt’s rules!

[@GamerGuts420]

​@@GENyou can buy flip phones for 15$ still

[@meganjaime7728]

Actually I know a family whose kids don’t have access to the internet except through a shared computer and they ask permission. They spend most of their time being crazy productive. They’re making quilts and writing books it’s incredible! And they are so happy and fulfilled. They don’t need a screen to have fun. To that point I didn’t either growing up. I spent my time reading and drawing and playing outside and playing with my toys etc. I didn’t get a phone till 15 and it wasn’t a smart phone. I also didn’t use it a whole lot. My first smart phone I got was at 18 and by then I had discernment and I made sure to be careful what I watched and how much. I didn’t Instagram till a lot later. Before that I used Pinterest mostly to find inspiration for crochet projects and art. Now i use Instagram for that and even now I barely use it. KZbin is where I go these days. What is crazy is how easy I can waste time on KZbin watching videos and I didn’t grow up with a screen. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for kids who are growing up with a screen constantly in their face. 😬

[@darklordofpuppies4138]

My parents have, in general, been very good at pointing out the dangers of social media. I am extremely grateful for that.

[@Merab_The_Machine_Dvalishvili]

The internet and social media are ruining people in general. Back in the day there where way more unique people, in this time everybody looks the same, wants the same, and acts the same. Wished I grew up 70 years ago.

[@Jamhael1]

Do not romanticize for a past that never existed.

[@stephsteph4503]

I went to the library with my baby the other day and said good morning to people outside as I was going in. They just ignored me. I miss people saying hi or good morning back! How can I show my child the sociability and friendliness of people .... If we aren't anymore? It's sad. 😭

[@Jamhael1]

@@stephsteph4503 bad economy makes EVERYBODY stressed and on their toes, and humans have limits - right now, people are struggling to pay the bills, which leaves little energy for manners. THAT is the level we are today...

[@trapabar19]

Well, I work in a college town and I agree. I call it the NPC look. Everybody follows, nobody leads now.

[@commentatingcommenter9178]

Yeah I saw videos from the 70's and the 90's. Nobody had smart phones. Everyone paid attention to everything that was going on around them. Everything looked peaceful. People actually socialized and talked.

[@Lawranceinsein]

I haven’t seen any personal responsibility from the parents.

[@JaceAhumadaMorrow-cy8vr]

What he did not cover is the accountable of the parents. Because if the parents never gave there kids the access of social media then they will never have those connections. I’m 16 and the only way I learn anything is because of KZbin to keep up with the world. So the fact is social media is a harmful influence but so is weak parenting.

[@nouvarae]

This comment coming from a young person says a lot!

[@jinjunliu2401]

There's tons of ways to learn things without having a personal phone. For example having a "house computer" which is there in the sight of the parents, the kids can go on the internet to search for things to read or watch. Besides that you also have TV documentaries. But most importantly, if there's a library near you then you just pick up some physical books

[@DuncanDonDuken]

Yes, he literally covered this in the video. I swear people must just not watch the entire video.

[@JaceAhumadaMorrow-cy8vr]

Yes he did say the parents could be at fault but did not further explain why they could be at fault. He went into the connection between the child and the dealer and how the app is used a communication device. I just would like him to have gone into that conversation with the parents,But that was just me it was still a really good video.

[@Andy4995]

@@JaceAhumadaMorrow-cy8vr The Problem is even if it's an investigative research he might have asked, if they would be fine discussing the topic and they said "no" or he didn't, because let's face it: Imagine you're a parent and someone tell's you "ask yourself this: could it be, that you're at fault too?" most of them will go bad shit crazy and tell you "how dare you question my parenting" even if it's true. Every Parent in the world has that feeling that they did everything right and that their kid can't do anything wrong.

[@wmalden]

Social media - not the internet - is ruining lives. I have a friend in her late 60’s that spends way too much time on social media. She has turned into a conspiracy theorist. So sad.

[@mgntstr]

she build her house on sand... it is not the weather's fault all her common sense was blown away

[@beloved-child]

When you can't get a single answer as too what's actually going on with the world and society from msm, that tends to lead people to find answers

[@beloved-child]

When you can't find any answers to whats actually going on around us on msm or legacy media, then people tend to search elsewhere for them.

[@DaniellePalomado]

My mom has too. To the extreme. Hard to even talk to her sometimes.

[@beloved-child]

@@DaniellePalomado I find it even harder to talk to someone who believes in msm and what Joey is currently saying about everything being PERFECT AND FANTASTIC BEST ECONOMY EVER when record inflation/homelessness/fake jobs/data collecting/censorship/home prices/climate change/etc

[@quasarsavage]

Parents please do what I hated my parents for doing, keeping me off the phone until 13 or 14 and off SM until 16. I am now 22 and doing better as a Zoomer. If you need to contact them get a burner phone that only makes calls and texts, monitor your kids until they earn respect and trust. ❤

[@zer0rez_]

Even as a non-TikTok user, I also encounter these dull shorts on other platforms such as instagram, facebook and also here on KZbin. These corps really know how addictive they are. I treat those as digital fentanyl

[@August-Batista]

Great video! The interviews are a great add. I like this topic because there's no easy answer. We all know it's harmful, but there's enough utility in it so that no one can quit. I went 3 months with a dumbphone and no internet access at home (no wifi either). I can safely say those 3 months were fantastic. I got out, decided to learn a new instrument, started to hike, lost weight, and even climbed a mountain. In the end, I ended up coming back because it felt like I was alone outside "the world". I imagine that's what keeps us hooked. Even if you take away all the dopamine draws and addictions the world is now built around these platforms and to step away from them feels like stepping away from the modern world (where everyone you care about lives).

[@GEN]

very well said

[@yota8325]

In some cases I think a life without internet would feel more worthwhile but agreed the first few weeks would be difficult

[@stacy984]

I can’t see how parents can blame a social media platform for harming their child. You are solely and legally responsible for the safety of your child. Parents are the only ones to blame.

[@detective2221]

Both are to blame, you can't put all the blame on one side. Social media needs to be safer, and parents need monitor their kids more. That is the most logical answer that I can come up with.

[@blackfoxphotography7672]

This

[@blackfoxphotography7672]

​@detective2221 a platform isn't responsible for shit

[@JordanMON]

It is easy to blame parents when they're the adults in all this and that is the reason we are where we are at today. Kids learn to shift the blame to others because that's what they keep hearing and learn. There is no self accountability nowadays.

[@detective2221]

@@blackfoxphotography7672 Yes it is, it is responsible for allowing harmful content to proliferate when it wasn't supposed to be there in the first place.

[@carolinepvong5114]

Parents please stop blaming yourselves. I’m 25 now and I was a teenager who my neighbors let my dad know about bc I was sneaking out. Now that I’m older I appreciate it but I didn’t know how valuable it was when I was little. At 25 ive lost a lot of good people to drugs when they hardcore believed they wouldn’t overdose. Don’t be arrogant and don’t think it won’t happen to you. Cause it can and it will. Edit: I don’t think I’m that old. I understand the appeal of internet challenges that’s why I’m so passionate about it stopping.

[@withallie]

I recently removed electronics from the kids and are planning only using them every once in a while and if an adult is there with them. We love it and my kids seem happier too. We can’t just blame platforms, but it’s our job as parents to educate them on how to use devices safely, keep them safe and allow them to be kids.

[@clearjoy-wo4fp]

Thank you so so much for entering this conversation. Like, when did we decide it was normal for anyone, much less kids and young adults, to be spending 5 hours on screens per day? As someone who's been struggling with a social media addiction for the past four years, it's encouraging to know I'm not the only one. That other people are starting to pay attention to this issue.

[@HabitualJoker]

Jonathan Haidt has done a lot of good research on this lately and has offered solutions for us as a society in his newest book, The Anxious Generation. Nice work, Gen!

[@colingraham1585]

thank you love haidt

[@_Soogin]

When I was a kid and I got into something weird on the internet, my gut told me to stop. My parents didnt talk to me about the dangers of the internet but they did emphasize my identity as valuable and important to them and to God. I had an awareness that there were things i needed to be weary of and that protected me. Kids need to have the tools inside to listen to the voice that says, hey you need to stop because this will lead down a bad path. We all have an intuition and parents need to help their children cultivate that. But the level of invasion right now that the internet is demonstrating is much higher than the past. I feel so bad for those parents. It's a tragedy this is happening. I think a question to ask is what is the purpose of social media? We like to say it has value but i actually think it feeds more of a void at this moment in time then it adds any value to someones life. I think anyone working in the social media/content creator field needs to be aware of what they put out there and think about for what purpose they are doing it.

[@DaniellePalomado]

Perfectly said.

[@jennprescott2757]

Absolutely. I financially my young kids when I see them practicing discernment. They point things out to me and they gain points as a team and when they reach a certain amount I pay them. They are all under 10 and they are keen. If they approach crap on the internet one day (they do not do much screening up to this point) they will have those skills built in. And yes - teaching them their value because they are made in God’s image. Imperative!

[@ZeldaVStheworld]

Educate kids on drugs on what drugs can do what. What drugs not to mix together. What drugs are commonly sold to mimick another drug. What drugs are typically cut and with what. What drugs are typically laced and with what. The only thing that kept me safe using drugs was education. People around me called me "obsessed" and a "druggie" because I knew a lot about WHAT I WAS PUTTING IN MY BODY. They stopped criticizing me when our friends started dropping like flies.

[@southerncyan4098]

This is a nuanced idea, and certainly the argument for sEd in schools, the idea that it's knowledge would prevent harm. It's odd imo that you're creating an equivalency between the two, and are treating both as an inevitability. Maybe you're right, drug use may be a part of our fundamental culture, and if so, information about it should be taught.

[@jennh2096]

Problem with that is that no amount of street pharmacology is going to help in the current world of fentanyl, because it's literally in everything now, even weed. I've made it very clear to my kids that if it didn't come directly to you from a pharmacy with your name on the bottle, assume it has fentanyl because that's the reality of the world we are living in

[@psychedelicelle]

I grew up with unrestricted access to social media. I really account critical thinking to why I'm okay. A older client of mine also decided to harp on the importance of critical thinking, it's an unseen backbone......

[@AdamSpanier]

Parent here. Don't let your kids get hooked on social media early. A screen is not a babysitter. Children should not have a phone with Internet access until they are at least 16. Don't let your child have unlimited screen time. Don't allow your child to have social media until they are developed enough to manage it. This is the parent's job, not the social media companies'.

[@user-bi3oc2jt4t]

I agree with most of what you are saying, but 16 is a little late I think.

[@mrmars1868]

As a 14 year old in the act where there is a phone ban at school which I think is a great thing because before there was 0 connection between student and teacher.

[@Dot2-mb3zk]

My parents' answer was a Flip phone. It can call/text parents, receive remind messages from teachers, receive text messages from friends. I didn't receive my first smart phone therefore access to most social media outlets until I was in my 20s. I'd say that restriction from social media worked, and I'm quite grateful in retrospect, despite hating it as a kid. I detest shorts and tik tok and while I don't read like I used to, I still am able to. And I feel more able to assert my boundaries against strangers, against algorithm suggested pornography, and suspicious advertising. Kids are gonna feel like dorks on their flip phones, but as a former Flip phone kid. There's MUCH worse feelings you can get from too much internet for your developing brain, versus feeling like a dork.

[@rastamoto]

I’m 40 and exposed to SM as it came to our world. It’s changed so much in 20+ years. I became a dad last year. I’ll be keeping her away from SM for as long as possible.

[@redwhiteandlost]

Childless Gen X here…This is a fantastic piece of content. I appreciate the admission that even you had difficulty paying attention during an interview. My heart goes out to the parents, and while it would be east to place blame on them, we need to consider how we grew up without phones and computers. Many of us were latch key kids, playing outside, getting into trouble when our parents had no idea where we were or what we were doing. Lots of love to these parents that lost their children. Thanks again for this video!

[@kae9341]

I'm sorry, my son tells me he's struggling with an addiction to oxy at such a young age, he's sleeping smack between my husband and I and not leaving my side until he's admitted into rehab, and I'd find a way to get a drug dog to search our home. That boy reached out for help and overdosed that night, almost definitely on pills he had stashed in his room, with his parents sleeping down the hall. I don't understand how that mom didn't think death was a potential outcome, seeing the drug crisis our country is facing and knowing how many deadly overdoses are due to the recipient not knowing what's laced into their drugs. My heart breaks for her and I don't think it was her fault at all, but this tragedy was so preventable.

[@dr.manhattan6278]

The internet is ruining most people mentally and emotionally.

[@IdkDieGODiguess]

I was born in 2010, and I'd consider myself to be a pretty high functioning "iPad kid". I mostly only used the phone to play games when I was younger though, and maybe by around 5 I was already using the old family computer that had 4 gigs of ram. These days I am a very heavy internet user, but i mostly just use it to pass the time and chill, and when I go out to a restaurant or somewhere, unless there are lots of people older than me or that I don't know very well, I like being social a lot, and generally it's actually the adults using their phone, although for obviously more important reasons than I ever would. I don't think I really apply to the general case though, not because I think I'm some kind of genius who just doesn't get caught off guard, just because I'm kinda weird lol. Edit: I forgot to mention, I also don't use any social media, like at all. No Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, nothing. The only ones I use are KZbin, if you consider it to be one, WhatsApp, and Discord to call with friends, though I'm not an active server browser on Discord, just to clarify.

[@Newyorkgiants123]

Fuck TikTok and Snapchat

[@caseyhauck7113]

I IMMEDIATELY knew what challenge you were talking about. Very grateful that no one in my school tried it, but it was definitely a big topic of conversation.

[@ericredbear425]

I tend to watch a lot of gardening and woodworking shorts and can remember more than 50% of what I see because they tend to inspire me in my own Hobbies. When I watch videos they tend to be in the 15-30 minute range because when my own ADHD I can't do the podcast length videos. I am a 51-year-old gen-xer so I do have a little more experience with waiting and delayed gratification

[@ThaiTalkwithPaddy]

Your videos are awesome GEN. Loved what you said at the end about the compromising of values for views. It can be a tough balance as a creator

[@coloxrme]

There's no way "social media will be safer" or "needs to be safer". Just don't let your kids have phones. It's that simple.

[@GalacticNovaOverlord]

"Just let your kids be socially isolated"- I'm sure that will do wonders for them. Totally. A healthy balance is what's needed. Give them a flip phone at the very least.

[@coloxrme]

@@GalacticNovaOverlord Kids are literally going to school. What socially isolated are you even talking about?

[@GalacticNovaOverlord]

@@coloxrme The child will be the odd one out for not having a phone, without instant communication with others. Then they are essentially isolated from most of the population

[@coloxrme]

@@GalacticNovaOverlord so your point of letting a child have a phone is for them to fit in? That's so shallow. If every kid doesn't have a phone, why else would they need one to "fit in"? The school has to enforce rules whereby phones are not allowed during classes at the very least, since I do know that some kids need to contact their parents to pick them up after school, but other than that, there's really no reason for them to be using a phone during classes. Parents should be teaching their kids to read and develop hobbies that are actually healthy ie gardening, sewing, baking even. There's so many things a child can do at home without scrolling through pointless social media and consuming unhealthy content, poisoning their malleable brains with nonsense. Even gaming on a Switch is better than scrolling through social media at this point.

[@shiwashere]

I lost my cousin in 2010 to fentynal. He was only 16. It still breaks my heart that he ever fell for the pressure and ended with the worst outcome. Few years later I lost a friend after he ended his own life from cyber bullying. The internet is both a blessing and a curse. I've met so many wonderful people online but I've also seen the worst sides of it.

[@AGDollFan4Ever]

My senior thesis is on this exact topic, though i had to specify to Social media specifically (but that covers almost everything) and I'm also focused on parental rules that they should encourage instead of the government. I loved this video, its so convoluted but it is an important topic.

[@jasmynbarca7222]

The way you feel conflicted about your own content and purpose as a media company was very appreciated. Thank you for your honesty and transparency! I've recently had a similar awakening. It is the classic trope of an unsuspecting person chasing "materialism", gaining it all and then realizing a lack of fulfillment and emptiness from it. Only I wasn't chasing big homes, material wealth, cars and clothes. I knew from older wiser people that those things were hollow. I chased impressive accomplishments, trips, experiences... I thought because those were nobler pursuits that I would gain and remain enlightened from them. Unfortunately not true. I still let those things define me, and attached my self worth to them in a metaphorical 'Putting the cart before the horse" type of way. Anyway Gen, I'm sure you will give yourself the space to find the way that is true to your good heart. Something can start with the best of intentions, but without constant vigilance and learning, we can lose ourselves to it.

[@SneakySteevy]

No! Bad parenting is. Kids are taught what to think and not how to think. Since parents themself don’t really know how life works they teach total non sense to their kids.

[@BensPitchingClips]

I really dont like the parents blaming snapchat for their kids taking drugs, thus, sadly passing. At the end of the day, the child decided what to do, and the parents are blaming snapchat when thats just a media for conversation, this couldve happened over text, whatsapp, whatever. As a parent you have to teach your child right and wrong, and if the child does something wrong, thats the dealers, child, and parents fault, no one elses. The parents shifting the blame and suing snapchat, rather than take ANY accountability at all shows exactly what im saying

[@bbbbbbb51]

​@@BensPitchingClipsat least one of them admitted that she failed her child. That's the hardest truth to swallow.

[@BensPitchingClips]

@@bbbbbbb51 most definitely , one of them didnt at all though, which frustrated me a lot as someone only slightly older than those children..

[@Galvvy]

Exactly, every era is defined by a radical change that affects everyone, think of all the kids lost to "the rise of industry" in the early 1900s. No matter what tools will change the face of humanity, only a good cultural foundation can help people navigate it. Culture is effectively the net effect of families, and if the family and society is degrading (which is accelerated by the agenda of certain people and groups.) Then what you're going to have is a failed society for everyone, not just the younger generations.

[@frishter]

Parenting is only a part of the problem. There is a whole system designed to domesticate people. It's also designed to make the parents busy or distracted so less likely to focus on their kids. Whether it be the internet, school, or media, there is an entire culture designed to tell you that going against your own interests is for the greater good.

[@lammdm]

Thanks so much for sharing this. This is terrifying- my kids are young right now, and I know I’m not prepared to navigate social media with them.

[@jessmarie6445]

THANK YOU for the work you're doing. You are truly doing such phenomenal journalism, I can tell that your goal is the greater good. Thank you. You are so appreciated.

[@brendenshore7073]

One of the craziest things in social media platforms is when you fight download the app on an IPHONE it’ll show a prompt, “Ask to not track” to me that’s crazy cause not only do they track you but you can select ask, not do not track so basically we’re always being monitored no matter what.

[@Cringeworthy_Guy]

Gen, you are one of the REAL journalists! Keep up the great work!

[@charlottescritters8399]

The fact that there's an ad for a fasting app on this video really speaks volume

[@shysky22]

This was an amazing video! Thank you for bringing awareness to this!💙

[@user-us3cb2oq9c]

Im 30 year and im not using facebokk neither instagram or tiktok, but also worried about youtube

[@FUnzzies1]

Not using English skills either.

[@clarkmcclain3174]

Same. KZbin is the only social media I use anymore. The rest was just toxic and not leaving me in a good place.

[@tianamarie989]

​@clarkmcclain3174 KZbin will get there soon, too. I wish I could disable shorts.

[@mariaxii]

@@tianamarie989it was way better when there wasn’t shorts. Longer videos are always going to be better

[@lime7208]

@@tianamarie989 You can block shorts with an extension (I use Unhook - it's free, highly recommended)

[@hairbeauty8083]

Doing drugs is nothing to do with social media, it's been a problem forever. I was expecting bullying and other stuff. I feel so bad for these parents but this was always a problem

[@kareno905]

This was just so good. I came back from a self imposed shorts-slash-youtube ban, and only watched this, moderation and quality. Keep up the excellent work and chasing the big plans.

[@StormerKiing]

Thank you for the subway surfers gen, without it, i would not have been able to get through your video with full focus

[@GEN]

hahahahah glad i could help

[@gjkzstgbpltw]

Awesome video on a tough topic! I'm not sure whether I agree with the statement that "social media is just a tool", since there are (quite rich and powerful) people behind those platforms who don't want any regulation and will do a lot to keep their platform running no matter what. A thought that crossed my mind as I was watching Dr. Rich talk about "the expectations we have for each other" is that maybe teaching kids about the dangers of social media is just half the answer. Maybe we should also teach kids to respect themselves, especially their own time and mental space. And maybe this level of self-respect will motivate them to actively pursue content that IS worth their time instead of just wasting it.

[@MercuriusCh]

Well said!

[@AlexSanchez-gd7wb]

True,but even with that 1)in a difficult internal struggle situation can you always trust children to make the right choice?2)is it worth even risking it considering what's on the line?

[@gjkzstgbpltw]

@@AlexSanchez-gd7wb completely agree with you. My suggestion was meant rather as a long term education approach and, of course, would work better with teenagers/young adults. Short- to mid-term and with younger children we're more or less back to the means we have at hand: limited screen time, parental control etc. And don't get me wrong, I also agree that those platforms must take action against illegal and objectively harmful content ("objectively" is in here on purpose, given how short the distance between content moderation and censorship can be, especially in a privately held medium such as Snap or insta)!

[@Vincent-uf7eh]

Damn I already hated snap for having destroyed teen/college dating and now I’m hearing about this. Snap should just be illegal

[@Random20946]

I dont know about that. Like in this hypothetical scenario; say someone walked into a gun shop and bought a gun. Then after wards decided to shoot up a mall/store. Would you blame the person for selling them a gun js because thats where they got it? I dont think they should blame the apps, more like blame their kids for seeking/ going towards the negative influences they see online.

[@itzelgonzalez7334]

I am parent to my 2 yr old girl. Thank you so much for spreading awareness and making this video

[@Seventhviper]

Probably one of the most important videos of the year - thank you for this!

[@TheBoneVampire]

“Buried in those devices is not the best way to grow up, not the best way to get an education” This is absolutely TRUE!! All these teens do is walk around like zombies buried in their devices.

[@Bebop8ubby]

Is there a way to interview the kids that are & are not affected by this? I find it interesting how if there are any decisions being made for the kids then there should be an awareness of what's going on in their minds when it comes to these situations.

[@keashablew7728]

Great video. Super sad, but concise.

[@simonulrikvifeldmller-hans5488]

amazing video as per usual. love the metacognition at the end + how you manage to stay *neutral in so many topics and always promoting people to do their own critical thinking and such.... your simply an amazing, empathetic journalist that delivers time and time again. thank you

[@ArkurisTV]

its cool you are having the same perspective on shorts and reels as I did at the beginning of the year. Im 26, and at the start of the year I deleted all social media, instagram, FB, SC, X, all of it. I caught myself doom scrolling in bed way to often and staying up way to late at night. Its now april, and I haven't re downloaded or used any social medias since then. Its amazing. My theory is that kids and young adults are getting spoon fed information with no real thought behind why they are watching it. When I was growing up, when I wanted to watch a video, I would think about what I want to watch, look it up, and make the choice to watch it. Now people just get videos thrown at them one after another and there is no critical thinking involved at all. There are some good scientific articles and studies done on how Gen Z's frontal cortex is barely active in comparison to previous generations. Scary, people are losing their ability to think for themselves and its a crisis.

[@Defpp]

You jarred me with that shorts part…. I can’t remember any of them and I watch them for hours 😮

[@cjohn8440]

Another great one. Thanks

[@PNW.sparky]

Great video buddy. I air on the side of kids and teens shouldn’t be allowed social media or free reins of the internet until they are 16, but I see both sides of the argument.

[@warren6172]

I’m sad that these parents aren’t blaming themselves. It my duty to shield my daughter from this. And she doesn’t go on these sites.

[@MysticalBeans]

I love your videos GEN!!! I’m so sad to see a decline in viewership. I think it just goes to show that people want partisan news. They want to hear news in a biased way that validates the way they already think.

[@andreaaltgayer404]

Great video and thought-provoking topic!I think that parents should watch videos like this and engage with their kids about this topic.

[@S42069]

I find myself to have a difficult time watching a full length movie now, so I started watching short films instead. But then I watch 2 hours worth of short films and nothing makes sense anymore.

[@ginger_jeezus]

Ya gotta force yourself to fix it.

[@godslittlegirl]

i see some people putting the blame on parents, but here's my take: what if the teens themselves don't want to listen? You don't need a phone to make any social media account, all you need is the internet and a google account (which most students have!). We say kids are easily influenced by things, which includes OTHER kids. So what if these teens get social media, simply to fit in? To want to belong. I know that I was heavily pressured by my classmates to get a social media account. I can't be the only one who went through that.. No matter how much a parent teaches, eventually it's these teenagers that decide their way ..right? Just a thought😉

[@connor.chan.jazzman]

Exactly my thoughts. It is unavoidable that they get exposed to social media

[@Frank-qn7de]

children don't magically get a smartphone when they get to teenage years, its their parents getting them one teenagers don't just magically have 24/7 access to the internet, their parents pay for it monthly its not hard to teach teenagers that the internet is full of people of ALL kinds both good and bad its not that hard to monitor your own children with the tech you buy them, and if you don't wanna "learn" how to then maybe you just don't care enough in which case is also your fault hell im saying this as a 25 year old, i was in my teenage years in 2013 and i went thru all of what you mentioned too but if i were a parent i wouldn't just let me children go on the internet just like that until they were reasonably mature

[@dodhethompson4841]

Kids don't magically decide to try drugs, you teach your kids to decide to try drugs, even though you probably didn't mean to, every action your kids make is a result of how you parented them

[@godslittlegirl]

@@Frank-qn7de but everyone needs internet. it's likely the parents had it before giving their kids a phone. also, about the phone: read my comment 😅

[@Frank-qn7de]

@@godslittlegirl no minor needs a smartphone (you want to call your children to keep tabs? buy them an old dumb phone) and no minor needs needs internet access 24/7, much less in the privacy of their smartphone which they can access literally at any place at any time

[@CelestialKingShawn]

Makes me wonder what foolish thing I did as a kid. Only significant things I can think of is trying alcohol at 12 and trying a vape at 17. Hated both.

[@DionPanday]

Social media is a tool, and just like any other tool, you can either teach someone to use it safely or not. But what you can’t do is blame the tool for what it is.

[@MercuriusCh]

You know, it is not the internet, that kill children, it is lack of parents care and involvement to children's life's. To point out, involvement does NOT mean totalitarian control on kids' every movement, just be friends and role model for your kids. Do not act in such way you don't want your child: i.e. don't shame child for lack of reading, if the only parents' leisure activity is watching TV...

[@MercuriusCh]

4:20 Also, GEN, you've mentioned Russian death game, called "Blue whale", but have NOT claimed that it was completely Streisand's effect: at first in Russia it was just local papers (not trustworthy tbh) scary-story, then Federal mass media over hyped the situation, and only then psychos started the real death-game. Seems like you're politically or personally engaged...

[@ericredbear425]

You obviously do not have children and I seriously doubt you're even an adult

[@_Sororita]

⁠​⁠@@ericredbear425I swear yall will do anything to absolve yourselves of all responsibility towards the raising of your kids, so y’all don’t to feel bad about anything when you behave irresponsibly toward them. Even when your kids mental health and safety are on the line. This person is giving the beginners basics of sound advice that prioritizes a better parental relationship as we’ll prioritizes the safety of children in a humane way-and here you go wiping out the lame and tired old line “ well do you have kids🤪” when someone even casually brings up styles of parenting that requires you to be hands on,patient, constantly doing the work in order for said suggestions to ACTUALLY work, and also see the child a human being while interacting with them. Instead of an NPC/accessory to your life that you can plop an iPad in-front of and ignore the rest of the day. And when there are lasting consequences, you can just turn around and blame everyone for why your kid ended up messed up/struggling, except for you.

[@EOtekk]

Don't ban Social Media. Let these kids sort themselves out so they don't grow up and make society dumber. Darwinism at its finest.

[@amibrainwashed]

Idk, Darwinism hasn't really been able to work its magic the last 60 years or so. Need to get rid of the welfare system and other unfunded liabilities.

[@celesztialbeing]

As a parent, don't allow access to the internet, devices, media AT HOME! Love them, talk with them, and teach them. You are apart of the problem as the ADULT.

[@mr.rationality5349]

woah racially diverse nazis are words I did not think would be said together

[@vicegripp]

Quite the opposite of the original Nazi theology & rhetoric. Just weird to still see actual Nazi ideology in 2024 but fkn here we are.

[@Sven-kc5zd]

Honestly hate the subway servers shit on all social media platforms. Like buzz off i just wanted to watch what the person themselves are saying not Minecraft parcour.

[@aj4k]

I think parents should be more conscious of the presence of social media in their kid's life and realize there is a reason that the minimum age requirement is 13. Younger kids impressionable minds are affected much more by cyberbullying. Combine this with the nature of the internet, which is essentially set up for us to compare ourselves in a negative lens against someone online who only posts the positive aspects of their life, it is easy to see how this has led to a rise in suicides and mental illnesses.