Ban Smartphones and Social Media?
For the defence - Burberry
Last week I posted a Guardian article with some really interesting insights provided by Dr Vivek Murthy. ‘Social media is like driving with no speed limits’: the US surgeon general fighting for youngsters’ happiness. I agree with this guy so much.
That old rumble again…
As the week went on, I couldn't help but notice the return of an old familiar topic in the media—talk about banning smartphones and social media for under-16s.
This is by no means a new argument. I’ve a library of news cuttings pre-dating smartphones and back to the days we called them mobiles.
As a parent and digital tinkerer, I’ve always been concerned throughout our tech revolution about what’s out there, and how easily it can come back to a phone screen.
However, I've also seen both of my daughters use smartphones and social media to improve their lives in so many ways. Appointments are set and cancelled, cards and gifts sent, books, boots and Ben and Jerry’s, courtesy of Amazon, DPD and Deliveroo. All with a Spotify playlist in the background.
The age-old battle - Good vs Evil
My younger daughter joined online groups during lockdown to rehearse with others for Borough of Culture events, and subsequently chose to go to an Arts school to study music and hone her musical talents. Collaborations, encouragement, advice and professional music networks have all been a part of her social media experience.
That’s not to say that she hasn’t had any negative experiences on the way, but the positive is clearly outweighing the negative for her and milions of others.
Breathe and Stop.
So, I have zero confidence in the suggestion that we can reasonably expect the digital generation to relinquish their digital culture. It’s not an addendum to their lives it’s integral. Think of the air you breathe. Now stop breathing.
Sure, dramatic lol, but you get the drift.
When ‘happy slapping’ was still on trend.
We believed phones would evolve to become a staple to younger and younger people, so we tested the potential to deliver positive content and responsible campaigns.
Banning just won’t work
It’ll take too long to venture into the impossible legal and workload challenges that go with outlawing and policing a digital generation ‘illegally’ using digital tech. Just think - the already charged issue of stop and search, being also applied based on the suspicion “you look 15 and 3 quarters, and are holding a smartphone?“
The Tech is not going away
It's just not practical to dive into the daunting legal and logistical hurdles of trying to outlaw and police a generation that's grown up with digital technology as second nature. Imagine the already contentious issue of stop and search being extended to suspicions like, "You look 15 and three quarters, and you're holding a smartphone?". It's a minefield of challenges.
It's been quite the whirlwind journey to get to where we are today. None of us could have predicted the rise of dominant tech brands and social media giants, or that within just a decade, billion-dollar founders would be shaping global (and maybe even inter-planetary) politics. Who could have predicted that? Many closed their eyes and wished for a return to a world before mobile.
Well peek-a-boo. Mobile technology is still here, and it’s going nowhere.
But… from inside tech looking out
It’s been largely overlooked (like, love or loathe the giants) that these technologies have exploded into new business eco-systems. Entrepreneurs and innovative boot-strapping micro-businesses saw opportunities to make the world a better place, through emerging smartphone tech and our changing media habits.
Don't forget about the mobile networks. Once seen as simple telecoms companies, they've evolved into major players in the entire media landscape. They're now delivering much more than just calls and text messages, which they used to overcharge us for on our old Nokia or Ericsson phones.
Together, tech has paved the way for countless businesses that young people also rely upon today. Yet, many of us never stop to wonder how they came about or the new opportunities that smartphones, 5G, and social media have opened up for them—and for us.
Some have grown into substantial employers, making significant contributions to the UK economy. Moreover, they've become brands and businesses that many young people aspire to work for. However, their success depends largely on the individuals behind the original ideas and the direction they set off in.
Choosing your lane
We chose improve the lives of young people growing up in a world where their devices could—and should—grant them access to opportunities. Slenky. After activating the first R&D platform, we received a letter shortly into testing. Access to Burberry had been made easier, and a life made better.
So, we aimed to make our tech as beneficial as possible for everyone involved. We saw our value chain reaching from the so-called top to the so-called bottom.
Bottom up - of course
We aimed for our tech to be both empowering and safe, providing peace of mind for parents.
Our aim? To give young people, especially those without industry connections, a leg up in finding their way. We wanted to make getting in touch with Burberry or countless other organisations quick and easy.
Our tech wasn't just about trying out opportunities; it was about showing how real success stories could inspire loads of others to go for it too. It'd be a huge task (maybe even worthy of a book) to tell the stories of all the young people who've used our tech to shape their futures. (But if you’ve a sec, here’s a few - The Shot).
Ok, now down to the Top
We aimed for our tech to make a positive impact on businesses. From traditional fields like construction, struggling to attract young talent, to emerging sectors hungry for tech-savvy minds—our focus was on addressing the UK's skills shortages.
We wanted our tech to make a local impact, aiding councils and large organizations in reaching out to their communities. In an era of austerity, where youth services were dwindling, our tech aimed to bring empowering opportunities like arts, sports, and culture to local audiences.
Our tech also aimed for long-term effects on regional economies by facilitating training and job opportunities for young people, helping them to become economically active through apprenticeships and employment.
Our tech was designed to connect people and regions with opportunities previously out of reach, all through the widespread use of handheld devices like smartphones. (Imagine, Extreme E Motor Racing reaching a young woman on an island off the coast of Scotland.)
That's our mission, and so far, I've yet to encounter anyone who smartphones and social media shouldn’t make access to opportunity better.
“What has happened is a fundamental failure of governments to protect young people from the harmful effects of a new technology and it’s not new any more.”
Target the broom
Today, there are thousands of brilliant social media businesses in various lanes, each innovating the giants' tech to positively impact physical and mental health, education, cultural enrichment, politics, and most importantly, engaging young people in the crucial task of saving our planet. So, where's the benefit in closing these lanes to you just because you're 15 and three quarters? The idea of banning social media sweeps too broadly.
Yeah, we’d like a hug
In my (admittedly biased) view, we should warmly embrace the positive innovations that phones and social media can bring to the lives of children and young people. But, it's essential to emphasise that we support them because they have a positive intent and impact. Every business operating in this space must uphold this bond of trust.
A Cold Shrug
There's really no excuse. After all these years of talking and witnessing some truly awful stuff, it's shocking that we're still dealing with the worst aspects of how some people misuse amazing, life-changing tech. We all know social media has been pretty nuts and wild, so it's about time we picked up the pace with our laws.
Governments need to set up better rules and controls that either make it impossible or cripplingly punnishing for the bad guys to remain on the same pitch as the good ones. I've been saying this for years now, but more bad actors are being hatched and getting even more powerful.
But we’re living in the connected future we once excitedly imagined, and now we've got loads of solid research showing just how bad their actions can be, we can't just sit around for another decade and hope things magically get better. Governments have to make sure these companies play by the rules to protect young people and make their lives better.
If they can't do that, then they need to find ways to get off them off the pitch.
