Florida Banned Social Media For Those Under 14, Should North Carolina Follow?
Should North Carolina ban social media for kids? It’s a fair question and one that will get more discussion in the coming days. This is because yesterday Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill, referred to as HB 3. HB3 specifically prohibits children under the age of 14 from opening social media accounts. Furthermore, 14- and 15-year-olds would only be able to become account holders with parental consent.
“Social media harms children in a variety of ways,” said Governor Ron DeSantis in a press release from his office. “HB 3 gives parents a greater ability to protect their children. Thank you to Speaker Renner for delivering this landmark legislation.”
Should North Carolina Ban Social Media For Kids Like Florida?
And I wholeheartedly agree with this. Bullying is notoriously easier online and doesn’t stop when school ends. Social media can lead to anxiety and other mental health struggles, which are running rampant in teens and young adults these days. Additionally, it’s a sad reality that photos posted online of children can also get into the hands of the wrong people. Plus kids should be kids, they should be outside and around other kids not in front of a screen. The downsides far outweigh the benefits from my perspective.
Specifically, HB3 accomplishes the following things in regards to social media:
- Prevents a minor who is younger than 14 years of age from becoming a social media account holder.
- Empowers parents to decide whether 14- and 15-year-olds can have a social media account.
- Protects the ability of Floridians to remain anonymous online.
Other language in the bill requires pornographic or sexually explicit websites to use age verification. This is obviously to prevent minors from accessing sites that are inappropriate for children. Another thing that should not be controversial at all in my opinion.
“The internet has become a dark alley for our children where predators target them and dangerous social media leads to higher rates of depression, self-harm, and even suicide,” said House Speaker Paul Renner in the press release. And honestly, if it saves even one life it will be worth it.
Will North Carolina ban social media accounts for kids? We shall have to wait and see. But I think you know where I stand on this. And if you have a compelling argument on why you think kids should have access to social media at a young age, well I’d be interested in hearing it.
You can read the full press release on Florida’s HB3 here.
Top 5 Signs You May Have 'Celebrity Worship Syndrome'
Obsessive Fixation
Your social life and personal relationships suffer because you constantly find yourself steering conversations toward the latest updates or news about the celebrity. This makes it challenging to engage in meaningful interactions with others. For example, during a dinner with friends, instead of participating in conversations about shared interests or experiences, you find yourself steering the discussion towards the latest gossip about the celebrity’s personal life or career moves, dominating the conversation. Sorry, but not everyone wants to hear what “Swelcie” ate for lunch today.
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Extreme Loyalty
Being loyal to your favorite celeb is great. Until it isn’t. Any negative media coverage or criticism of the celebrity feels like a personal attack, leading you to defend them even when their actions may be questionable or harmful. Let’s say a tabloid publishes a critical article about the celebrity you idolize, accusing them of unethical behavior. Rather than assessing the information presented, you fight tooth and nail for the celebrity online. This includes engaging in heated arguments with strangers who express differing opinions. Maybe even feeling personally attacked by any negative comments directed towards the celebrity.
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Extreme Measures to Emulate
You find yourself adopting the mannerisms, speech patterns, or even fashion choices of the celebrity in an attempt to emulate them. This can sometimes cause you to lose sight of your own unique identity in the process. You might decide to undergo extensive plastic surgery to alter your appearance to resemble the celebrity you admire. This includes actions like getting lip injections to mimic their full pout or undergoing rhinoplasty to match their nose shape, ultimately losing sight of your own natural features and uniqueness in pursuit of something unattainable.
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Financially Reckless Behavior
Another sign is engaging in excessive spending on celebrity-related activities. This includes attending concerts, purchasing memorabilia, or traveling to events, despite financial constraints or mounting debt. For instance, you find yourself continuously following a popular musician on tour, attending multiple concerts in different cities. Each concert you go to has several expenses for travel, accommodation, tickets, and merchandise, pushing you further into financial distress. Despite warnings from friends and family about your unsustainable spending habits, you prioritize your idol’s concerts over your financial well-being. This ultimately leaves you facing severe financial consequences.
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Delusional Fantasies of Personal Connection
You experience intense jealousy or resentment towards anyone who you perceive as having a closer connection to the celebrity, whether it’s other fans, their friends, or even their romantic partners, leading to irrational behavior or hostile attitudes towards these people. You might even spend hours researching the celebrity’s favorite hangout spots or following their social media activity to determine their whereabouts. Suppose you happen to spot them in public. In that case, you may impulsively approach them, convinced that if they just got to know you, they would want to befriend you or pursue a romantic relationship despite the unrealistic nature of these expectations.
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