Cynthia de las Fuentes, PhD President at American Psychological Association | Official website
A new report by the American Psychological Association (APA) has highlighted the ongoing risks to youth posed by social media platforms and called for technology companies to take responsibility in making their products safe for young users. APA's chief science officer, Mitch Prinstein, emphasized the need for structural corrections to harmful design features and functions, stating, "Most children and adolescents lack the experience, judgment and self-control to manage their behaviors on these platforms." Prinstein stressed that age restrictions alone are insufficient and that developers must address the inherent dangers in their platforms.
The report focuses on the need for technology companies to reduce the risks embedded within their platforms to truly protect youth. It cautions that policies alone will not suffice without addressing the psychological threats and developmental vulnerabilities introduced by social media features. The report also underlines the limitations of current proposals, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive safety solutions for meaningful change.
Among the recommendations put forth by APA are calls for comprehensive design improvements to social media platforms. These include considerations such as individual differences in adolescents' maturity, the potential harms for those above age limits, and the importance of access to social media for peer support and marginalized populations. The report also highlights the need for age verification measures that do not compromise the anonymity of young users.
Addressing the role of parents in protecting youth from social media risks, Mary Ann McCabe, PhD, co-chair of the expert panel behind the 2023 health advisory, stated, "Delegating responsibility to parents, to app stores or to youth themselves does not address the vulnerabilities and harms built into the platforms." The report stresses the need for a collective effort involving technology companies, policymakers, and other stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of young users on social media platforms.
