Why You Shouldn't Let Your Child Borrow Your iPad Abbi Downer NMD200

Adults are mostly aware that the online world is flooded with harmful content. We are also mostly aware of the algorithms running our feeds. But what happens when a child get's their hands on technology? How does the algorithm affect them?

Apps and websites focus their algorithms on formulating advertisements, recommendation, and persuasive content that makes you want to engage - disregarding censorship.

If a parent allows a child to use your computer, iPad, or phone, they are subjecting them to the adult-intended algorithm on their accounts. Guillaume Chaslot, who is a former software engineer at Youtube, explains that a "certain percentage of the content in the recommended section [has] foul language, sexuality, racism, controversial topics, etc. The reason being, it appeals to adult, creating more clicks and views, benefiting the company".

Accepting cookies on websites is also dangerous to children. By doing this, you are allowing the website to advertise any item from the search history of the wifi. A child could be using their parents device and be subjected to something that could scar them.

Without question, social media can harm children mentally. "26% of all social media users under the age of 18 have experienced some degree of cyberbullying. Moreover, rates of suicide due to social media have increased by 9%".

In 2017, 14-year-old named Molly Russell took her life after viewing thousands of instagram and pinterest posts promoting self harm. This was encouraged by social media algorithms that continue to show you similar posts that are engaged with. This is an awful example of how algorithms actively harm children.

What is the solution? It would be a perfect world if we could keep children off of screens until they become adults. I think that the best thing parents can try to do is monitor the certain kind of entertainment or apps children use until they get to a more "mature" age.

This can look like the PBS Kids or Amazon Kids app, where children can watch shows that are FOR them, with no fear of an evil algorithm.

Or it could look like keeping harmful apps in specific, hidden folders, making it more difficult for children to access them.

It is easy to see the harmful affects on children resulted from algorithms. "Developers for companies take the risk of jeopardizing an innocent child's mind, to create an advanced platform to enhance social aspects of life around the world".

Sources:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/09/coroner-lists-instagram-algorithm-as-contributing-cause-of-uk-teens-death/

https://jods.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/m21ninrj/release/1

https://akmaier.medium.com/do-algorithms-harm-our-kids-a4d85c01b9ee

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Created with images by Svitlana - "A little cute girl lying on her stomach on a sofa holding a tablet putting a point finger to her opened mouth" • dolphfyn - "Three dimensional apps on smartphone." • WavebreakMediaMicro - "Cute pupils in computer class" • JYPIX - "A man who is searching for videos on the Internet." • penguiiin - "cookies isolated on white background." • Cultura Allies - "Girl with afro using cell phone" • kerkezz - "Girl sitting on the bed and using smart phone in the morning" • Stanisic Vladimir - "Smart phone in boy hands. Isolated screen for mockup, app or web site presentation. View behind shoulder." • Ruslan Ivantsov - "monitor isolated on white" • mnirat - "documents are placed in a filing cabinet in the office." • steheap - "Preschool girl using a tablet computer at home"