The 2024 Heritage Innovation Prize will support the Institute for Family Studies and the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s work to protect children online.
My husband and I grew up in the “ancient 1900s,” before the dawn of the internet, but were early adopters of new forms of tech as teenagers and young adults. Luckily, we graduated college before social media became mainstream. Apparently, we dodged a bullet. As Jonathan Haidt highlights in his book The Anxious Generation, “Excessive screen time and unregulated online environments are among the most significant contributors to the rising levels of anxiety and depression among our youth.”
Those rising levels of anxiety and depression are rapidly becoming a national crisis, and not enough people are moving to address the threat “excessive screen time and unregulated online environments” pose to young people’s well-being. The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) and the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPCC) are working to remedy that, in collaboration with state policymakers, by enacting legislation and policies to protect youths online and in schools. In support of these efforts, on May 20th, they received the $100,000 prestigious Heritage Innovation Prize.
The rise of digital technology and social media has drastically transformed childhood and adolescence. Today’s children are exposed to a continuous influx of digital information and interaction, often without the necessary guidance and boundaries to navigate this complex landscape safely. The consequences are becoming increasingly apparent, as more studies link extensive screen time and unregulated internet use to various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and decreased social skills.
As all parents are becoming increasingly aware, limiting screen time and creating online protections are vital steps in safeguarding children’s health, but parents need all the help they can get. The efforts of the IFS in this area are invaluable, offering guidance and support to families striving to navigate the digital landscape responsibly. By following IFS’s recommendations, parents can help their children thrive in a digital world while maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
In addition to limiting screen time, creating a safe online environment for children is paramount. The internet is a vast and often unregulated space, exposing children to various risks, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators. The IFS and the EPPC have both been instrumental in raising awareness about these dangers and advocating for stronger online protections. By implementing parental controls, monitoring online activity, and educating children about internet safety, parents can significantly reduce the risks associated with online interactions.
However, not all children benefit from a vigilant and proactive home environment. Some parents may not establish necessary boundaries within their homes, leaving their children more vulnerable to the negative impacts of excessive screen time and unregulated internet use. This highlights the urgent need for broader societal interventions to protect all children, regardless of their home circumstances.
This is why I’m thrilled that the Heritage Foundation has chosen to support IFS and EPPC as they work with state policymakers to get their model legislation passed. The organizations will seek to enact more robust online age-verification and parental-consent laws for social media, enhance age-verification laws for pornography sites, and develop and promote model policies to make smartphones and app stores safer for all children. Additionally, they will develop policies for both schools and policymakers to prohibit smartphones and social media in schools and coordinate efforts to address legal challenges against Big Tech.
Such measures are crucial in creating a safer digital environment for children. Stringent age-verification processes and required parental consent for social media usage can significantly reduce the risk of young children encountering harmful content. Enhanced age-verification laws for pornography sites are particularly important, given the potentially traumatic effects of premature exposure to explicit content on children’s development and mental health.
Moreover, the development of policies that make smartphones and app stores safer can help ensure that the digital tools children use are designed with their safety in mind. This includes implementing features that limit screen time, restrict access to inappropriate content, and provide parents with greater control over their children’s digital activities.
IFS and EPPC’s efforts to prohibit smartphones and social media in schools can also play a vital role in promoting healthier behaviors and interactions among students. By reducing the presence of these distractions, schools can create an environment more conducive to learning and personal development, free from the constant pull of social media and digital distractions.
In conclusion, while technology is an integral part of modern life, it is crucial to manage its use carefully, especially for children. Limiting screen time and creating online protections are vital steps in safeguarding children’s health, development, and safety. The efforts of the Institute for Family Studies and the Ethics and Public Policy Center in this area are invaluable, offering guidance and support to families and policymakers alike. The Heritage Innovation Prize will help these organizations work to ensure that all children, regardless of their home environment, have the opportunity to thrive in a digital world while maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
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