During this ladt election cycle.
I listened to college aged kids try to discuss politics. What i overwhelmingly hear is this.
Social media has overtaken the exchanging of ideas amongst our youth. If you suggest an unpopular idea/ opinion. You are social shamed. Your friends drop you in fear if being associated with an unpopular opinion. If that isnt the destruction of free speech. In the name if free speech. If you cant see the danger here. Well. We're more broken as a country than previously thought.

When those 4 kids were living with me. I witnessed one of them get bullied via social media. I guess shaming is more accurate. It never ends. Its 24-7 until the kid is crushed into a shell. Afraid to hold an opinion.

Bullying has always been around. We were subjected to it at school. Heck im guilty of participating in it. Nothing in my life pains my soul more than my memory of a pair of kids i watched get the verbal assault, and i joined in on the "reindeer games". Shame on me!
But its different in 2024 from 1974.
In 1974, " Peter Johnson" was ridiculed at every class break.( It was jr high) "Whats up Dick Dick" was a common one. But. In classes. He got a break from it. When he got home each day. The bullying stopped. On the weekends. The bullying stopped.
In 2024? The bullying us endless. While hes asleep. A new social media post goes up. During class, on weekends. While hes eating dinner with his family. The bullying likely continues.

When it happened to my GF's son. He was ashamed to tell anyone. It wasnt until his little brother told his mom that any adult was informed. By then. The damage was done. The kid came to hate school. Flunked most of his classes. Eventually quit and began studying for the ged. Mostly, he never recovered his confidence until he joined the army national guard a week or so after his 17th birthday. The saddest part. Is that of those 4 boys. He was the brightest & most curious.

Kids can be cruel- we all know how it works. How the gang forms. Meanwhile, kids are handed their own social media access device at ever younger ages year by year. So much of a childs "rights" are limited by age. Wisely so. Ie- drive a car, drink, smoke, buy drugs in legal states. Join the military, vote, Buy a gun etc. Yet, there is zero age restriction on social media access. Smart phone possession. While this continues w/o a hint of regulation. Pediatric Psychologists insist at 100% agreement rate. Social media & smart phones are damaging children worldwide. Likely irreversable damage.
I think? Youre better off giving a 12 year old a 6 pack & the keys to a buick. Theres a good chance he'll get home safe. Social media access for a 12 year old creates addiction and irreversible harm at a higher rate than that 6 pack/ buick plan. I dont have any proof. But we all know its true.