Are social networks unhealthy for minors?
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@evan Yes. I wish we didn't feel the need to use a social network *at all* but the fact that it's virtually impossible to exist in 2026 without a social network is not a healthy thing.
I'm here because it's the best option available but I wish this was not something necessary.
@renata like methadone?
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@evan yes, but also for adults
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@evan social networks? no. addictive corporate social network? yes. (so no but)
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@evan No, but their algorithms are and not just for kids.
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@evan I removed myself from The Big Ones and people *don't talk to me anymore*
They don't know how to talk to me. They can't find me if it's not by looking it up on some social network.
Don't you think that's a little weird? If I delete my account here, I'm going to basically disappear.
@renata I think we got used to that circle we didn't have before social media. Even with social media platforms usually there is a hand full of closer friends we meet, call or write regularly. And before social media there was the "work circle" maybe a sports club. But there wasn't that huge fuzzy circle of "facebook friends". @evan
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@evan no, but: websites and apps that optimize for maximum addiction ("engagement") so that they can sell more ads are bad for *everyone*, and *everyone* includes minors. some of those websites are social networks. it's not a wrong statement, but putting the focus on "social network" and "minors" is doubly the wrong focus.
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@evan I'm curious how many people voting on this have young ones (I have a teen, and voted "no but" because they have an incredible social life, largely fueled by keeping in touch with people online, but we have so far restricted them to networks of closed groups, not "open world" social networks, mostly)
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@renata I think we got used to that circle we didn't have before social media. Even with social media platforms usually there is a hand full of closer friends we meet, call or write regularly. And before social media there was the "work circle" maybe a sports club. But there wasn't that huge fuzzy circle of "facebook friends". @evan
@kleisli @evan A lot of people complain about social anxiety and loneliness, and I truly believe that the over reliance on social networks to be basically the only source of connection is the driving force behind that
You had both the ability to completely disconnect and also had to make an effort to go out and find whatever new things you wanted, things humans have done for centures.
In 10 years, we lost that. Of course our minds feel weird.
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@kleisli @evan A lot of people complain about social anxiety and loneliness, and I truly believe that the over reliance on social networks to be basically the only source of connection is the driving force behind that
You had both the ability to completely disconnect and also had to make an effort to go out and find whatever new things you wanted, things humans have done for centures.
In 10 years, we lost that. Of course our minds feel weird.
@kleisli @evan Also, performing is exhausting. Social networks train people to perform 24/7.
You take a picture but it’s not for your personal album, it’s for many likes.
You post something and keep waiting for someone else to reply, or worried about others might think.
An entire generation grew up not knowing what is having a private thought
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@evan Not inherently, but as soon as someone decides to introduce an algorithm to increase engagement they become unhealthy for everyone.
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@evan Yes, if you mean "social" networks with feeds populated by intransparent algorithms.
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Yes, but pretty much everything is unhealthy for minors, so there you go.
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@evan No, the GAFAM are unhealthy for minors.
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@evan No, not in general, but the way most current profit-oriented, algorithmic networks work are unhealthy.
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@evan@cosocial.ca No, but targeted advertising is, so in practice most are.
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@evan Not social networks per se, but the purposefully addictive design that tries to keep people on platforms and show them ads and the lack of reporting and moderation are issues that affect everyone but minors disproportionally
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@evan depends on the social network, but not inherently. So I went with "no, but."
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@malte isn't this a social network?
@evan It is. I think you know that too, so I wonder how come you ask.
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@evan It is. I think you know that too, so I wonder how come you ask.
@malte because you said that you're on the Fediverse because social networks are unhealthy for kids and adults. For me, that means either that you don't think the Fediverse is a social network, or that you think it's ok or necessary to do something unhealthy.
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@malte because you said that you're on the Fediverse because social networks are unhealthy for kids and adults. For me, that means either that you don't think the Fediverse is a social network, or that you think it's ok or necessary to do something unhealthy.
@evan What I meant to say is that I think the way social networks work at the moment are overall unhealthy for us. The reason I'm here is that I see this as the most likely place to improve the situation.
