Engaging with friends on social media can help reduce feelings of loneliness and provide a diverse network of friendships for kids. However, there are potential risks including addiction, sleep deprivation, and hindered brain development. Scientific consensus acknowledges both the benefits and risks, emphasizing the need to establish control and educate adolescents about smart consumption of social media.
Congress has yet to pass legislation regulating social media companies, so parents are taking matters into their own hands. A lawyer representing them explains how a new spin on an old legal theory might lead to a big win.
This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey and Michael Raphael, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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