This year is my son's first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. He is enamored by all of the lights, music, and decorations in our house and around the city. As I look at the wonder in his eyes, I'm reminded why I started this newsletter and the career path I'm currently on.
These last few weeks there have been a few items in the news that I've been tracking on.
Nikki Haley's proposal to verify users on social media.
Facebook's lack of protection of children
Montana Republicans TikTok Ban Blocked
The Internet is a very different place than when I grew up in the 90s.
Before parenthood I would dismiss all of these stories as a feature of capitalism or conservative / right wing censorship. After parenthood, I'm a lot more sympathetic.
All of this leads me to a simple question.
What do parents do?
The typical arguments of screen time seems pale to me compared to:
- The repeated messaging advertisements and posts kids are exposed to on a daily basis.
- The toxic social pressure that Instgram and other platforms encourage by design.
- The parts of our soul we sign off on every time we go on a new website or install a new app.
As a software engineer, I am not 100% innocent. I've created applications and websites designed to grab attention, get clicks, and created other "dark patterns" that are now standard on the internet.
While I don't agree with the State of Montana, Nikki Haley, or the current state of social media when it comes to moderation to protect kids. I do appreciate those who are earnestly trying.
This newsletter helps shine light to efforts like this and find ways to use technology that enriches rather than entangles.
This Week’s Challenge
This is not a solo endeavor. Let me know what works for you and your family. I believe that together we can find answers that will help all of us build a better Internet for the future.
