NYC Takes a Bold Stand, Declaring Social Media A Public Threat

The negative effects of social media have been a topic for debate for quite some time. Many claim that it can cause unrealistic expectations and perceptions, increase the risk of predators, and increase the risk of anxiety and depression, among other things. Recently, New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered his State of the City address, announcing that Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan has declared social media a public health threat. The city will now handle social media like other public risks, ensuring that digital companies take responsibility.

The mayor called on state and federal lawmakers to do more to stop the allegedly predatory practices of certain social media platforms. "We need to protect our students from harm online, including the growing dangers presented by social media. Companies like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook are fueling a mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features. We cannot stand by and let Big Tech monetize our children's privacy and jeopardize their mental health," said Mayor Adams.

Many social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old. But nearly 40% of children 8 to 12 years old and 95% of children 13 to 17 years old use social media platforms, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. In fact, an advisory on how social media affects children and teenager’s mental health was realized by the U.S. Surgeon General.

According to that advisory, rates of hopelessness among high schoolers in New York City have increased by 42% since 2011. That year was one of the early years of the social media era. The same was said about suicidal thoughts or ideas: those have also increased by more than 34% among the group over that same time frame.

Dr. Vasan issued a Health Commssioner’s Advisory, officially designating social media as a public health hazard in New York City. He shared his full statement on social media, saying, "We are the first major American city to take this step and call out the danger of social media like this. Just as the surgeon general did with tobacco and guns, we are treating social media like other public health hazards and ensuring that tech companies take responsibility for their products."

During the address, officials advised parents and guardians to hold off on giving their children access to social media or cell phones until they are at least 14 years old. Additionally, they asked legislators at the federal and state levels to build on legislation that would shield young people from exploitative tactics on social media platforms.

When asked about the impact of social media on mental health, a Meta spokesperson, representing Facebook and Instagram, told ABC News that mental health is a "complex issue." They pointed out other factors like limited healthcare access, the COVID pandemic, and academic pressure. The Meta spokesperson also expressed a desire to collaborate with schools and experts to better understand these issues and explore how social media can support teens comprehensively.

YouTube representatives told ABC News that they've implemented safeguards for young users, including "digital wellbeing features" and removing harmful content. They're also looking to enhance collaboration with researchers.

TikTok mentioned to ABC News that they've added features like bedtime reminders and age restrictions to improve youth mental health. Additionally, they've created an API with public data for U.S. researchers.

Best Buy has announced that starting in 2024, following this holiday season, they will discontinue the sale of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs, both in their physical stores and online. They have said the reason for this decision is due to the increasing popularity of streaming services.  This move aligns with the prevailing trend, as more people turn to streaming for their entertainment needs.

Physical media does come with certain inconveniences, such as taking up space and limited mobile accessibility. But there are still people who appreciate the more traditional way of enjoying movies and music. There are some advantages of owning Blu-rays and DVDs. These include owning what you buy and having bonus content you can't get anywhere else.

In the '90s, owning a pager was considered a status symbol and a fashion statement. Today, it's even possible to purchase a fully functional vintage Motorola pager from online marketplaces like eBay.

With the widespread use of mobile phones and free calling applications that offer unlimited calls via Wi-Fi, traditional landlines may eventually become obsolete. However, the complete phasing out of this technology may take some time. This is because certain regions or countries still contend with unreliable internet or cellular coverage. As of August 2023, Community Phone reports that approximately 40.35 million households in the United States still maintain landline phones, and 38.1 million households have both a landline and a cell phone.

For some people, "new" technology doesn’t always mean "better." On Reddit, a user started a discussion thread asking, “What outdated or obsolete tech are you still using and are perfectly happy with?” The thread received more than 16,000 responses from people who shared the outdated everyday items they still happily use. Check some of them out below.

You probably haven't seen a calculator in ages, but a Reddit user chimed in to say that, for them, the old-school scientific calculator beats the one on your phone or any app. They simply put it like this, "Honestly, a standard scientific calculator is just easier to use than your phone's built-in scientific calculator." It could be the fun button-tapping sound or the nostalgic thrill of typing in cheeky words with numbers that makes this person prefer calculators.

Smartwatches may pack in loads of features, but there's a catch - they need regular charging and maintenance, and their battery life is shorter. On the flip side, traditional watches are a low-maintenance choice with longer battery life. In fact, a Redditor mentioned they still rock a "a lovely, inexpensive, bombproof, analog, big face Casio." They also pointed out that smartwatches aren't allowed at their job, so their trusty Casio gets the job done.

If you've put a ton of effort into collecting CDs and vinyl records, and creating some killer playlists, why ditch them, right? One person told their story about growing up in the '90s, building a massive CD collection, and stashing them all in one of those Case Logic CD binders. They fondly shared, "I still keep it with me in my car and it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane every time I open it. I laughed and cried a little when my kids friend asked me what it was and I said, 'CDs' and they followed up with, 'What’s that?'" But also: not everything is available on streaming services.  That obscure soundtrack or tribute album from the '80s? Licensing issues may have prevented it from hitting the streamers.  Love Joni Mitchell? Well, Spotify doesn't have her catalog. Sure, you can subscribe to another service, but if you kept your old vinyl and have a turntable, you can listen to it the old school way.

You have people who can't stand a tangle of wires in their tech setup, and then there's that Reddit user who's all about the wired life. They firmly believe that wired networking is "not obsolete or outdated." According to them, it's superior in every aspect, except for the mobility it lacks compared to wireless. They put it simply, "Wired is the ideal, you only go wireless if running cable is unfeasible for the situation.

A regular doorbell does its job well. It lets you know someone's at the door. On the other hand, a video doorbell does the same but with the perk of letting you see and hear the person at your door, even if you're not home. Someone mentioned they'd be up for a smart doorbell if it kept the data local. They said, "I don't want anything being sent online, so I might need to set up my own system... I'll just stick with the traditional kind."

A Redditor shared their affection for good old physical buttons, arguing that not everything needs to go the touchscreen route. They stressed the importance of having car radios equipped with buttons rather than screens, believing it's a safer choice. They explained, "It’s easier for me to push a button to change the music while keeping my eyes on the road/ I can’t do that if my car has a screen. It increases distracted driving incidents."