In 1978, Quebec was a pioneer by becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to ban advertising aimed at children. Since then, this law has made us proud, because it powerfully illustrates the fact that we are crazy about our children. Quebecers who grew up in the 1980s have vivid memories of the cultural shock they experienced during their stays with Uncle Sam. And what can we say about their parents who were amazed at the immediate effects of the ad!
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge. Let’s frankly admit that in 2023, our young people are exposed without hindrance to much worse than cereal or doll ads…
In this “big week for little ones”, let us take note of the profound societal transformation that has taken place over the last few decades and let us accordingly adapt our mission to protect little ones, but older ones too.
Banning cell phones in class is an excellent first step. That said, we should also improve the supervision of social networks and the digital pornography industry which act irresponsibly, with impunity.
(a)social networks
The promises of social networks were a dream: these tools were supposed to break isolation and encourage interactions that were as abundant as they were harmonious. It is clear that if interconnection is indeed reaching new heights, so too is isolation, division and mental health problems.
And this particularly affects young people.
Let’s first talk about TikTok, which has a series of harmful challenges. After the fashion of destroying schools, the viral challenge of the moment is a game that pushes children to punch each other. Schools, distraught, are multiplying warnings, in vain.
Then there is Meta, several of whose employees rightly seem to have serious conscience issues. In 2021, the high-profile exit of Frances Haugen exposed the fact that Facebook was well aware of the psychological harm that Instagram inflicts on teenage girls. More recently, it was whistleblower Arturo Bejar who accused Meta of washing its hands of the social problems it creates.
Several leading figures of the digital revolution are ardently calling for beacons. They recognize the power of the tools they have developed, which is why they understand the urgency of supervising them.
Let’s force the Web giants to assume their responsibilities: let’s demand better control of the minimum age of access and let’s stake out the algorithms that harness our dopaminergic circuits. It’s a public health issue.
The porn industry
Similarly, many voices are being raised to deplore the omnipresence of online pornography. Senator Julie Miville-Dechesne also presented Bill S-210, which aims to impose majority verification for access to pornographic sites. Sadly, the Quebec political class received this filing with “deafening silence”. However, the data is clear about the harm that this free access to pornography causes for both boys and girls. The imposition of guidelines is not a matter of moral panic, but once again of public health.
In her powerful text, Isabel Hogben, a 16-year-old freed from a porn addiction, applauds the laws that dictate age verification and calls them progress that should be replicated. What are we waiting for to do like Germany, France, Great Britain and several American states?
Beyond the legislative stick, let’s rely on the carrot so that young people re-examine their relationship with technology. The more opportunities we provide for children to connect with each other and with nature, the less they will want to stare at their screens alone.