Yes, but it isn't a cut and dry, across the board answer

There are issues with social media in general with the sheer amount of access that anyone can have to an onslaught of information

But that's also an important part of allowing people to find themselves

It is not that social networks exist, or that they are social that makes them unhealthy, it's algorithmic manipulation by billionaires.

I have just had the unfortunately experience these past few days of what happens when Facebook randomly decides to put my political posts in front of the eyeballs of angry white men.

The only reason why I am here typing is because there were people who liked my tweets at Twitter.

If I didn't have SNS, I would have unalived myself at 10.

Yes.

Most are already unhealthy for adults, and minors have even fewer psychological tools than adults to protect themselves from the harm they cause.

So, they're even more unhealthy for minors.

ah. I now see where the support for the privacy invasion legislation is coming from.

the idea that children should sit silent, isolated, and inert, until their 18th birthday whereupon they magically gain all the skills needed to live well is what's unhealthy for children.

just let them live their lives with unconditional agency, love, and support. I guarantee you it is better. sometimes they might go online! you are just going to have to find a way to deal with that, team.

Conceptually, no. An online social space isnt automatically anything but social

But as created and run currently, by people and corporate entities who design social networks to maximize engagement by outrage and do not design for healthy use?

That's bad for basically everyone, especially kids who are still learning to navigate their physical social spaces.

I removed myself from The Big Ones and people *don't talk to me anymore*

They don't know how to talk to me. They can't find me if it's not by looking it up on some social network.

Don't you think that's a little weird? If I delete my account here, I'm going to basically disappear.

through high school both my parents worked and i was largely left on my own in the house with my 3 siblings. between the age of 13-17 i was in a lot of public discord servers and met a wide variety of people, who shared my extremely crude and childish sense of humor at that time. it was quite nice having human company, even if it was from all over the world and not down the street.
however i also had one too many experiences of being DM'd "i did it again :333" or "reply or ill really jump" when I was the ripe age of 14 sipping on root beer and eating chips.

and apparently im not alone in that experience of becoming an uncertified discord therapist because i know so many people who experienced a similar deal, or otherwise wound up in petty internet drama with The Most Insufferable People Ever.

The internet is such an unbelievably varied space that its impossible to really quantify in one number or sentence how healthy it is. It'll be a spin at the roulette table on what you find any given day on any given platform, and with every conceivable human concept available with a bash of a keyboard, anyone can access anything.

I believe that knowledge should not be constrained and social networks often are the gateway to the most up to date conversations on current events and evolving knowledge, with an equal part of rot.

(1/2) @evan I've always opposed sanitizing the world for kids.
They *will* get online & find stuff. I did (just w/BBS's!).

I *am* sure so-called “social media” *is* toxic for kids. Heck:it's toxic for most adults.
But age verification laws'll put 16 yr olds into business of making fake ids for 10 yr olds.
My mother read Tipper Gore's book & Destroyed all my #punk tapes.
Lars brought me his to school to listen to free.
& the censorship made me an activist for life. So, maybe upsides?🤷
#EvanPoll

Folks, I know this is a heated issue, but please be respectful of other people in the comments. You can disagree without attacking people personally.

I have a hard line about telling people they are unfit to be parents. That's not an acceptable thing to say to another human being.

I struggled between yes, but and no, but.

Inherently, being part of a social group can be important esp. when you're the type who doesn't mix normally (me in my youth.. 0 friends but my ZX Spectrum.. would have killed for something like Mastodon back then).

But the way they're run by corporations with no thought for the damage their algorithms can do.. just more eyeballs means more profit.. makes them a toxic place. We need to fix that.

For me, it’s a “No, but…”. I grew up using BBS (only for a short time) and then Usenet. There have always been toxic elements there, and certainly not everything was age-appropriate. So it’s also a reflection of society. And today, especially on commercial networks, that reflection of society is the attention economy and the greed for data.

Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that these networks are safe for all users. Children should not simply be shielded from them, but rather taught how to use these media. They will find a way to participate anyway.

the problem is "social media" algos. they intentionally fuck with us for profit. bad for everyone but kids are less prepared for manipulation and their brains are still changing. beyond the personal, taken together, they also have a societal impact.

I think staying connected to people they know IRL via "social networking" tools is great for minors. and I think a purely reverse chronological feed without ads is a better way to get news for everyone.

I hope we can make the distinction.

Thanks to everyone for your replies here.

I think social network platforms are good for people. Connecting with people you care about, meeting new people, expressing your ideas and your creativity, sharing your daily life, learning about the vast diversity of human experience -- these are all positive things that social networking platforms can bring us.