Stephanie Calman, author of Confessions of a Bad Mother, has expressed frustration that social media platforms are not held to the same regulatory standards as television. In a letter to the Guardian, she argues that asking teenagers to self-regulate their social media use is ineffective, especially in light of a reported plan to encourage 16- and 17-year-olds in the UK to follow a midnight social media curfew.
Comparison with television regulation
Calman points out that in Britain, television is tightly regulated by Ofcom, with strict rules governing the depiction of sex, drugs, and violence, as well as requirements for impartiality and accuracy. The public is also protected from unduly offensive material. She contends that this regulation has not stifled creativity but has instead helped Britain produce some of the world's best television, upholding the highest standards.
Call for equal standards
Calman questions why social media providers, which are massively profitable, are not subject to similar oversight. She argues that leaving regulation to users is a laughable waste of time, particularly when targeting teenagers who may lack the maturity to manage their own consumption. The letter calls for social media to be regulated as strictly as television, ensuring the same protections for young people.
