It has been suggested that the students be taught social media basics. This could be a new set of “3 R’s” for education. The social media 3Rs might include, in addition to “reading, writing, and math,” “research” and “respect.”

The “researching” ability could be used to help teach young users on social media how to avoid believing everything that is posted. This would help to stop the spread misinformation. The “responsible use” of social media helps users to understand the importance of being careful about what they share, as well as showing respect towards other users.

Increased social media usage could mean more problems

This curriculum will become even more essential as users of social networks are expected to grow in number over the next few years.

Statista reports that the number of social media users worldwide has risen from 970 millions in 2010 to 2,96 billion by 2020. This is according to Dr. Vivian Maria Vasquez of American University, a professor of Education.

Vasquez said, “Today’s children grow up in a world with increased media usage. A world that is characterized by new technologies and forms of communication.”

As technology became more accessible and kids gained more independence, they spent more time on tablets, social media, streaming and other technologies.

The use of social media platforms has increased the possibility to instantly broadcast experiences of life as they happen. “Social media is a great way for companies to sell products, and news outlets and government agencies to quickly share information in real time,” Vasquez said.

In order to help navigate the online world, such as on social media, youth today may require tools. Vasquez believes that media literacy should be part of the literacy curriculum.

Stacie Pettit, an associate professor in teacher education from Augusta University Online suggested that media literacy and awareness of social media should also be emphasized.

Pettit said that students do not need to be taught about the platform itself, but rather how to identify credible online information and stay safe when using the internet. As far as social media is concerned, teachers can use it to engage students by using this tool. But teachers must consider their purpose in using social networks and should not use them just for its own sake.

There is a New Media

Though other mediums didn’t require such education—no one ever taught anyone how to watch TV or even how to play video games—a difference here is how social media can impact the user in ways that other media does not.

It could be as simple as giving younger users an insight into the impact of this medium on people’s everyday lives.

Anthony Silard is a professor of Luiss Business School, Rome and author of Digital Age: The Art of Free Living.

Silard said that social media and phones are both as captivating for our children and teenagers as they are us. Both are here to remain. We will keep doing the same thing until we are ready to help them adapt to this new aspect of their life.

This is where it could back to those new Rs—so that children understand how to be respectful of others, how they need to take responsibility for what they post and how they shouldn’t contribute to the spread of falsehoods via the platforms.

Vasquez stated that “children need to learn how to critically evaluate the messages on social media they come across directly or indirectly to ensure they’re not duped by anything they hear, read, or see.”

Children need to know what messages to retain and which to discard from the media. In our classrooms, we need to give children the space to see how media images and words are used to portray people in certain ways. To become a critical literate person, it is essential to teach children how text can be used in real life.

Seattle Public Schools (SPS), filed earlier this week a U.S. District Court complaint against multiple social media firms, alleging that these platforms cause harm to students’ emotional and social health. These firms include TikTok and Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube.

Kent School District, a neighboring district, joined the 91 page complaint. It claims that social media companies created a public nuisance targeting children with their products. According to the complaint, social media has been blamed for various behavioral disorders such as anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and disordered eating. Additionally, it was suggested that students are more distracted from their educations by these companies.

The goal of social media is not to be eliminated, but rather to make these businesses more accountable and change the way they operate. SPS revealed that we are asking the companies in question to put their best efforts into protecting students.

“Young people in the country are experiencing anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide. SPS added that this mental health crisis affects the SPS’s mission to educate students and drains resources from schools.

TikTok refused to respond to the lawsuit. However, TikTok spokespersons stated that they prioritize safety and wellbeing of teenagers through screentime management and age restrictions.

Other social media platforms did not reply to our request for comment.

Kids And Social Media

While this lawsuit is not the first for a social-media company, it’s unclear if they can do more than make headlines.

“For a school district to file a suit against major companies blaming the mental issues of students looks past the overarching problem – namely where do parents fall in regarding their responsibility. Jason Mollica (professorial lecturer at American University) said that this is an important question. Parents should monitor what their children are doing online.

This isn’t to say that the problem doesn’t exist, and Mollica noted that there have been plenty of studies that show that too much social media exposure isn’t good for younger users – it can impact self-esteem and body image, and be a conduit for cyberbullying.

Mollica added that she knows Facebook and Twitter aren’t the most effective places to reinforce positive behavior.

A lawsuit, however, is unlikely to go very far.

Section 230 of Title 47 of the United States Code (47 USC § 230), part of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, essentially provides a legal shield for Internet companies noted Dr. Clifford Lampe, professor of information and associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Information at the University of Michigan.

He said that it was unrealistic to expect social media companies to act in the best interests of users.

Platforms are built to sell attention and don’t consider health and well-being. Lampe stated that they want us to be engaged so they can provide the same care to our flock as a shepherd would.

Companies are accused of using “Dark Patterns” to engage users longer. Experts suggest these users be taught how these platforms manipulate them, rather than suing.

This applies to all children.

Lampe said, “We should be more socially literate in order to identify when we are either ‘doom-scrolling’ on the platforms or just spending too long on them.”

New Moral Panic

It is notable that the suit harkens to the past attempts to blame society for problems. It was before social media that it was videogames, but it wasn’t movies or heavy metal music. Dungeons & DragonsComic books, jazz music and written novels.

Each generation desires to be the one responsible for all of the new big things.

Mollica said, “There has been always something to blame.” Mollica stated that AC/DC sued after a suicide victim in 1980, while more recently video game companies have been subject to Congressional hearings.

This is the latest effort to transfer the blame.

Lampe said that “there have always been technological moral panics,” such as the time the telephone entered your home. It was assumed that strangers could simply enter without you asking.” Lampe said, “But this all goes back to Socrates’ warning that the written word can ruin memories!”

Mollica said, “Blame shouldn’t be just transferred to parents,” for reasons that have already been stated about how companies use social media. It shouldn’t be all about lawsuits.

“A lawsuit will not be beneficial in any way in making social media more appealing to youth users,” he said. It won’t accomplish much. Children will overcome age restrictions. However, it is likely that this won’t happen. It is important to teach children to use the platforms correctly and not to let them get lost.

SME
 — 

‘Twas two days before Christmas when within the house, a soon-to-be mother began having contractions.

Erica and Davon Thomas were expecting their first child on Christmas Day, but around 11 p.m. on December 23, Erica’s contractions began.

On Christmas Eve morning, the contractions worsened – but the Thomas’ couldn’t leave their home as the snow from the winter storm had piled up about halfway up the front door of their Buffalo home, Davon told SME.

The soon-to-be father called 911 for help and was told they’d attempt to get an emergency vehicle there as soon as possible. When he called again later, he was told responders had attempted to get to their house but couldn’t.

“I started thinking, ‘Well, how is my baby going to get delivered safely?’” Davon told SME.

That’s when he realized they were going to be doing this alone.

Davon called Jeter Jr., a close friend. He posted the request to help on a Buffalo group Facebook.

Many people left feedback, offering help or sharing their numbers. Raymonda Reynolds (a doula with five years of experience) was one of them.

Reynolds and Davon spoke at 1:05 p.m. Davon was concerned for Reynolds’ wife and child.

“I’m so happy they chose me, there was a lot of people they could’ve called.” Reynolds told SME.

Reynolds said she could hear Erica in the background – clearly in labor – as she began telling Davon what to do.

“It was straight tunnel vision,” Davon recalled. “I realized how important this was and all nerves went away.”

With Reynolds’ guidance, he grabbed towels, a pair of sanitized scissors and a bowl from the kitchen (to catch the placenta).

They eventually connected via videochat so that the doula could assist them better.

“I kept telling Erica to take deep breaths,” Reynolds said, “I was trying to keep them calm and reassure them.”

As Erica walked around the house in pain, Davon’s job was to follow her closely.

Reynolds added Iva Blackburn as a friend and doula to the conversation. “She brought that extra comfort with the medical background,” Reynolds said.

Two doulas, Davon and Mary on video chat, suggested that Davon examine the baby with a flashlight.

As he put the phone down to check, Erica yelled, “The baby’s crowning!”

Erica then described a burning sensation and gave out what Reynolds described as “a primal moan.”

As Erica squatted, Davon placed a stack of towels under her. The room was quiet, and then Erica shouted: “She’s here!”

“We started screaming like it was a Buffalo Bills touchdown,” Reynolds said. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve been a part of.”

Devynn Briell Thomas was conceived at 3:31 on December 24, and weighed 6 pounds, 9ozs and measured 20 inches in length.

The doulas advised the new parents to clean Devynn’s mouth and nose, and ensure skin-to-skin contact with mom. After that, Devynn let out her first cry.

They stayed in touch with their couple via phone to assist with post-birth care and cut the umbilical cord.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” Davon said, adding he and his wife were in shock. “It was very comforting knowing they were there.”

And it’s social media that made it possible. Facebook “can be messy sometimes, but it can be life saving and life changing,” Reynolds said.

After the successful birth, the family’s next task was to get mom and baby to the hospital, despite the snowstorm. Davon was notified by a text message that assistance was coming at around 4:30 am on Christmas Day

Angel Lugo’s family had seen the post on Facebook and his sister told Davon Lugo would come take them to the hospital, he said.

The snowfall prevented Lugo from parking at the family’s house, so the new mom, dad and baby had to trek through three blocks of knee-deep snow to the car. “We had to walk through quite a bit of snow,” Davon added. “It was like a scene out of a movie.”

Davon said his family arrived back home on Tuesday safe and sound, and Erica and Devynn are “both doing wonderful.”

They plan to meet the doulas that helped them get through the experience face-to-face once the snow has melted.

Even Pope Francis who is widely regarded as a reformer and savior of many Catholics has not been immune to backlash from social media. CNN reported that he was criticized for suggesting that people who choose to have children with their pets are selfish. He also warned that a decision not to parent could result in a decline of humanity, as well as a threat to the civilisation.

We see people don’t want children or only one. And many, many couples do not have children because they do not want to, or they have just one — but they have two dogs, two cats … The Pope stated that dogs and cats can take over children. It’s funny. But it’s the truth. It takes our humanity away, and this is what we are doing when we deny fatherhood or motherhood. Because it has lost the wealth of fatherhood or motherhood, civilization is aging and lacking humanity. Our homeland is a victim because it doesn’t have children.

Although the comments are true to the Catholic Church teachings on the importance of parents having children and their marriages, social media reacted quickly and loudly. While many users shared pictures of their pet pets to show their affection, others spoke out directly.

“The Pope is entitled to his opinion… but pet ownership is making a strong case here,” wrote satirist Heather Gardner (@heathergtv), who shared a photo of her dog.

“Cat Twitter getting mentally ready to drag Pope Francis because people choose pets over having children are selfish,” tweeted @clockoutwars.

Sarah Maclean, @sarahmaclean, was directer, tweeting: “Billionaires, oil companies and Pope Francis are there right there and calling people with dogs selfish.”

“Well, the Pope could have a silly opinion. This is an extremely stupid opinion,” Kimberly Johnson (@AuthorKimberley), the host of StartMeUp Podcast, said.

Matt Walsh, children’s author (@MattWalshBlog), was also direct about the Pope’s remarks: “Even broken popes are right once in awhile.”

Popes Live In Glass Houses

Twitter users also quickly addressed the fact that Pope Francis doesn’t have any children.

Leo Montague, @LeoMontague91 wrote: “Interesting words by the Pope who apparently forgot he himself has deliberately chosen not have children.”

Tracy King, a writer/columnist, said, “Ah yes. The Pope, famedly and unselfishly, has lots of kids.”

First, I support Pope Francis. Does this mean that people who become priests are selfish or not? “Third, he may want to be open to the idea that many people make an unselfish choice not to have children,” thought Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd).

Lines Of Decorum

It was not surprising that there were many tweets that addressed Catholic priests being accused of child molestation. Simply put, it seems that in the age of social media, Pope Francis is seen as fair game – despite the fact that he likely didn’t mean for this to be such a controversial issue or topic.

Scott Steinberg (brand market expert, social media pundit) said, “To each his merit: After all, pets these days are children to many people and more adults wait longer to have children, if at all.”

“Also, last I checked the decision to have kids – which is life-altering and comes with countless responsibilities – is a personal choice,” added Steinberg.

Of course, it was Pope Francis had suggested that such a personal choice was a selfish one, and as noted in the above tweets – among thousands of others – many users felt the need to respond. Evidently, such direct responses are not reserved for the Pope.

“These days any individual is fair game on social media – political, religious, you name it,” added Steinberg. If you share your thoughts in public opinion, it’s not surprising that the public will respond.