Parents Are Responsible For Raising Their Own Kids, Not Social Media
Demanding that social media companies bear the responsibility for children's online activity is the same argument gun controllers use when targeting firearm manufacturers
Parents testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee today on the dangers of online sexploitation, drug use, and bullying. Several Senators demanded that Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, apologize to the families. Sen. Josh Hawley demanded that Zuckerberg pay them compensation.
The parents' stories are heartbreaking. There is no sympathy lost by asking how is this Mark Zuckerberg’s fault, exactly?
Where are the parents? No one’s child is born with a cell phone or computer. They’re given these things. Parents have a responsibility to monitor their children’s activity. Social media isn’t a babysitter or a partner in raising your children. Neither Big Tech companies nor the state owe you anything in raising your children for you. It’s wild to even say this in response to Republican questioning at this hearing.
It’s not difficult to raise kids in this social media era when you parent and implement restrictions and expectations. I’ve done it and am still doing it. My household is a parentocracy. There is no Fourth Amendment in my home. My property includes any devices not under the financial jurisdiction of the possessor. I will exercise my right to seize and search my property whenever I feel the need to do so. I will remotely lock and erase the contents on my property, should the need arise. The Internet is full of good and bad things and it’s the responsibility of the parents to help their child navigate this. Blaming third party service isn’t the solution. It’s an old formula though, most often used on the left.
Parents and anti-gun lobbyists have routinely blamed firearms manufacturers for preventable, tragic casualties. After the Uvalde tragedy, manufacturer Daniel Defense was targeted because their legal product was murderously used by a dangerous individual with a known record of violence, threats, and disturbing behavior. The family who knew — including the reported uncle who took the teen to buy the rifle after he was previously caught doing drive-by BB gun shootings and swinging around dead cats in bags — skirted responsibility but the company did not. Why was the company responsible for a minor illegally using its legal product? In 2021 a racist murderer drove a Ford SUV through a Christmas parade, killing five and injuring 48 others. Is Ford is responsible for the deaths?
My heart aches for these parents but allowing a tragedy to justify increased big government regulation isn’t the answer. Kids need boundaries, parental oversight, intervention when needed, and no free rein on social media. Government and corporations are poor parents.
My thoughts exactly. Parents are afraid to actually raise their children any more. Either that are they are so hedonistic they don't want to be bothered by actually being a parent and all that entails. They don't want to become involved with things like church, sports, having dinner together (without cell phones at the table. Nothing is more ridiculous then going out to dinner and seeing a family of four all of whom are on their own cell phones, totally ignoring each other. Or giving a 3 year old their own computer to play games rather than interacting with them.
No, its not social media that is the culprit but unsociable parents
Straight talk, Dana. And it couldn't be more clear. Your final paragraph makes the case. Keep on keepin' on, dear lady.