Neuroscience | Leadership | Innovation | Management | Using the latest in neuroscience to help you lead better. Changing the world one brain at a time by building psychologically safe workplaces. Want to join us?
"Social media today is like tobacco decades ago: It's a product whose business model depends on addicting kids." Josh Golin, executive director at Fairplay, an organisation that is dedicated to ending marketing to children, said in a statement responding to the US Surgeon General's piece in the New York Times last week. "And as with cigarettes, a surgeon general's warning label is a critical step toward mitigating the threat to children." This is a worldwide issue, not just an American thing. If you don't believe me then read Jonathan Haidt's book "The Anxious Generation" as he explains how the data is from countries all over the globe. "We were so worried about protecting them in real life that we didn't stop to think about protecting them online and the impact of the digital technology that we unleashed on them." If you are a parent please read the book "The Anxious Generation." If you are not a parent please read the book "The Anxious Generation." Have I covered everyone? Please read this book to understand it is up to all of us to change our relationship with digital devices just like we did with smoking. I grew up in a time where smoking was allowed on planes, all cars came with ashtrays, and you could smoke in the office, actually you could smoke anywhere. We can change! Stay Awesome & Stay Kind 🙏
Warning signs are not the answer, too easily ignored and we will probably need to wait 5 years for one to be put in place. We need action now. We need the internet providers and phone companies to offer to block Social Media now. Give parents control. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/social-media-control-isps-tim-jenkins-bnwne/
I lost my 11 year old daughter when she unalived herself, due to harms she was exposed to on social media. I thank each one of you who is now an extension of our child voices.. Please share their stories. Say their names. Selena #forever11 #socialmediaharms #kosa #childsuicideawareness
I am sure social media companies have the data on how it affects the younger generations. It’s a shame that they haven’t done anything about it.
That's a thought-provoking, Jeff McKeon. Much like tobacco decades ago, social media platforms today often rely on addictive features to keep users engaged, particularly targeting younger demographics. This business strategy can raise concerns about the potential impact on mental health, social dynamics, and overall well-being. Recognizing these parallels encourages a critical perspective on how we interact with and regulate digital technologies in our lives. 🚬 📲 🙅♂️ Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking awareness, my friend.
Thanks Jeff and thanks Jonathan! It's not the question if social media is a bad thing per se. It's much more about how consciously we consume social media. And as a parent it is my responsibility to help my children develop in the best possible way - and this also means I don't have to be their best friend, I have to be the adult in their life and be the best mom I could be. 🧡
Thank you for sharing! I completely agree that warnings are crucial to protect our children, who are our future leaders. However, there must also be accountability on us as adults. This issue requires a balanced and collaborative approach to ensure the well-being of the younger generation. 🤔 Will 👍🏻
Mobile phones are the smoking of our generation. I imagine the kids are experiencing some flow on effects of having phone addicted parents too Jeff? I haven’t read this book yet, so as instructed will add it to the list! Thanks.
Quality Manager at Microba
2wI cannot help but disagree. Social media is not a monolithic thing, nor is it it would inherently bad. It is a change in society and not all societies have adjusted yet Tobacco was not only addictive but toxic and carcinogenic in its output. Social media is a method of communication.