Sir, – The debate over banning social media for under-16s has attracted many and varied voices. Some argue a ban is necessary to protect young people from addiction, harmful content and online exploitation.
Others feel bans are unenforceable and risk excluding our young people from important social and educational benefits.
Yet I fear both sides are looking in the wrong direction.
The real issue can be summed up in one word: “anonymity”.
RM Block
Anonymity provides the cover that allows platforms to avoid meaningful age verification while enabling the spread of addictive, harmful and often hateful content. It shields those who bully, harass and manipulate others with misinformation online, while making accountability almost impossible.
The consequences are no longer confined to the digital world. The effects of online abuse, misinformation and toxic content are increasingly evident in our schools, workplaces, communities, public discourse and is contributing to a growing distrust of the news media.
The damage is felt both online and offline.
Rather than focusing solely on age-based bans, we should be asking whether a system built around anonymity and a lack of accountability can ever provide a safe environment for young people – or indeed for society as a whole. – Yours, etc,
Sean Burke,
Kinlough,
Co Leitrim.
