The debate around social media's impact on mental health is not new, but the conversation has regained the world's attention in light of reports this fall that suggest Facebook has been well aware of the toxic mental health consequences of its platforms for teens.
Understanding social media's impact on mental health isn't all that simple. There is a strong argument to be made that social media can offer a safe place for young people to discover themselves and their identities.
The benefits are pushed aside while the consequences of social media rage on. Today's popular social networking platforms, like Facebook, are designed with monetization in mind. These apps encourage excessive use because more user hours on the app equal more ad support.
The tech industry has a responsibility to make space for platforms that aren't dependent on ad dollars.
I believe that it is possible to build a social media environment that is beneficial for teenagers, one that helps them discover themselves and affirm who they are, and one that lets them explore.
There is a chance for social media giants to team up with other organizations and nonprofits to make social media a safer place for all people.
There is space for ad-supported and nonprofit social media.
It is difficult to imagine a world where for-profit social media is not a monopoly. The tech industry has an opportunity to make space for platforms that aren't dependent on ad dollars, but it may not be realistic to eliminate ad-supported social media apps completely.
If the number of views, clicks, and ads were more important to people than what they wanted, we could change the way social media platforms work. Users could escape pressure from other apps, connect with peers, or find an accepting place if we built communities that they could come to on their own terms.
Ello and the other ad-free social media spaces are small and have less features than the high volume of users who are accustomed to them.
It is nearly impossible for young people to explore their identities online without the help of social media companies. Advertisers want to know who is spending time on social media so they can target them. This makes it difficult for young users who want to use social media as a vehicle for figuring out who they are but can't do so discreetly.
In order to overcome this, the industry needs to make more investments in social media spaces that have a purpose other than profit. Tech giants have made incredible strides in product innovation over the past few years, which could be applied to other sites that give users a safe place to express themselves and find supportive communities.
There is a need for online spaces that aren't driven by revenue, but there is also a time and place for ad-supported apps. We can work together to make room for both, and it doesn't have to be one or the other.
We have invested in research to better understand our users' wants and needs, without the added pressure of meeting specific revenue goals. Through this research, we have learned that our users value having a safe space where they can express themselves and look to the internet to explore their identities.
What if we used it for good?
Tech companies can apply their leading-edge artificial intelligence developments to improve the user experience on social media and alleviate some of the mental health stressors caused by spending too much time online.
Machine learning can be used to inform social media sites about people who are spending more time online. We know that technology can help people with their mental health, but what if we used it to give users more control over social media?
Imagine if an artificial intelligence system could help people find what they really need in a given moment, such as guiding them to content that makes them laugh or cry, connecting them with like-minded users, or suggesting resources that give them skills or knowledge.
Most social media apps use artificial intelligence to determine our feeds, pages and timelines. If we used artificial intelligence to let people guide their own journeys on social media, we could foster a fundamentally different emotional experience.
This sounds like a no-brainer, and some may believe it is already happening. This is not how the content we see on social media iscurated. That must change.
We have the technology needed to create sites that are good for our well-being thanks to innovations and research in social media, but it is just a matter of investing time and resources in developing them and creating space for nonprofits to coexist with major ad-supported apps.
It would take a lot of time, money and collaboration for social media companies to partner with nonprofits to develop artificial intelligence that gives users control over the content they see and how they interact with it. It would require social media giants to be willing to make room for alternative apps.
Making social media safer and healthier for all people is a goal that many nonprofits, including The Trevor Project, are dedicated to realizing, and we would greatly benefit from social media companies helping make it happen.
