Hannah Story, the Digital Rights Officer for Children and Young People at Amnesty International, described social media activities as a space for self-expression, education, and opportunities for social mobility. However, she warned that there are deeper issues within the structure of these platforms. Algorithms, endless design, and other attention-grabbing mechanisms can repeatedly amplify harmful content, provoke negative emotions, and trigger concerning behaviors.
The Necessity of Reevaluating Algorithm Design
Story stated that algorithms, especially for young people, can have detrimental effects. These algorithms, designed to capture more attention and generate data, can lead to an addiction to social media rather than serving the users. She believes this issue necessitates a reevaluation of social media design and improvements in related regulations.
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Social and Psychological Consequences
Story pointed to the social and psychological repercussions of this issue, stating that the use of social media can lead to increased feelings of loneliness and depression among young people. She emphasized that to tackle these problems, collaboration with platform creators is necessary to design algorithms that help improve users' quality of life.
Ultimately, Story called for greater attention to the digital rights of young people and the need for a comprehensive approach to social media design. She also stressed the importance of holding global discussions in this area to reach a global agreement on how to use and design these platforms.
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