Mental Health
It’s important for parents and policymakers to understand the complex ways internet use can affect the mental health of children and teens. However, any holistic assessment of youth mental health must take into account the positive role safe online access has for young people by keeping them connected with family and friends, support networks, and life-saving resources like virtual mental health care and suicide prevention websites. Misguided bills being considered in Congress would cut off young people from those support networks and online resources, jeopardizing their mental health and wellbeing. Instead, we should teach young people how to use the internet safely while allowing them to maintain positive online connections.
Serious Consequences for Youth Mental Health
Legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) would upend the way all youth access information online and give politicians more power to determine the content they see:
State attorneys general - partisan politicians - would have the power to enforce their political agendas and sue internet service providers if they believe subjective content moderation regulations are violated. That could include content LGBTQ youth and others use to build community and find specific mental health resources.
Internet service providers and platforms may be forced or strongly encouraged to remove and censor any content that may affect their liability. That could include content about mental health challenges or self-harm prevention.
Online platforms would be forced to eliminate or undermine end-to-end encryption that many young people often depend on to privately join support networks and access other information essential to their physical and mental health like virtual mental health care and suicide prevention websites.
U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on social media: “Social media can provide benefits for some youth by providing positive community and connection with others who share identities, abilities, and interests. It can provide access to important information and create a space for self-expression. The ability to form and maintain friendships online and develop social connections are among the positive effects of social media use for youth.”
Experts and Advocates Agree the Internet Is Critical for Youth Mental Health and Community Building
“[The bills] disincentivize platforms from providing end-to-end encrypted communications services, exposing the public to abusive commercial and government surveillance practices and as a result, dissuading people from communicating with each other electronically about everything from health care decisions to business transactions.” - ACLU
“If the government had unchecked power to control what information children could access, government officials would usurp parental imperatives and inevitably abuse that power to advance ideological agendas. And it’s important to remember that for many kids, social media provides a powerful and positive way to connect with friends, family, and the larger world.” - Foundation for Individual Rights in Education