Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wants to introduce a social media ban for everyone under the age of 16 – a necessary step.
D Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wants one Introduce minimum age for social mediato protect children and young people from the dangers of the platforms. Tech bros like X owner Elon Musk and Telegram founder Pavel Durov reacted promptly, calling the Spaniard a “tyrant,” “fascist,” “traitor” and his plan a “threat to freedom.”
It seems strange when such accusations come from the owners of social networks and platforms and are directed against those who are thinking about how minors can be protected from manipulation by algorithms. People like Musk or Durov pretend to act for the benefit of a noble goal – the freedom of all. They use terms like freedom and give them a whole new meaning. George Orwell would call this Newspeak.
Being exposed to networks that create an accurate profile of everyone from an early age, confirming prejudices using algorithms, forming political opinions through invented “truths”, reinforcing hatred as well as deepen depression and other psychological problems – that is not freedom. That may be good for the business of Mr. Musk and Co. It is certainly not good for personal development into critical, tolerant, democratically thinking citizens.
It is not for nothing that the owners of the major platforms support authoritarian politicians like Donald Trump and protect parties like Vox or the AfD. The tech bros believe they are so powerful that they can insult elected politicians and turn their users against democratic governments.
This claim to power, which is only legitimized by one’s own wealth and control over the Internet, must be stopped. AustraliaFrance and now Spain are on the right track. Legal limits must be set for the platforms and networks if we do not want our societies to be completely brutalized, completely manipulated and the desire for equal rights for everyone to soon be history. The weakest link in the chain are children and young people. For this reason they need very special protection.
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