Tomorrow, the Mass House is voting on a bill on social media and cell phones for youth that includes, as the post from WBUR puts it:
...prohibiting social media use for children under 14, requiring platforms to obtain parental consent for users ages 14 and 15, and banning students from using cellphones in schools.
The Boston Globe adds that it also would share information posted with the parents of young people between the ages of 14 and 15.
This is terrible in so many ways!
I sent the following email off to my state rep John Mahoney yesterday:
John,
I am writing to urge you to vote against the proposed bill regarding social media and cell phones that will be before you this week.
Young people in marginalized communities very frequently find support on social media platforms, in many cases, support that they cannot find in their own families and communities. Barring them from those platforms, and, at under age 15, pushing anything they submit to their parents is not only an inappropriate violation of their privacy (which, yes, they have); it may well endanger young people. The rates of rejection and abuse of young people who are gay and trans is high, even in Massachusetts.
Doing age checks requires ALL of us to submit OUR data to social media companies; this is not something I wish to do, and it is wildly irresponsible for the legislature to expect that of us.
Young people who are currently endangered by the federal government also should not have their communication devices (which also include cameras) [taken] from them at the schoolhouse door. That is the opposite of supportive.
This is, top to bottom, a bad bill, John. Please oppose it.
Thank you,
Tracy Novick
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