Columbia, S.C.The hazards that children confront in today’s digital environment are not confined to playgrounds or neighborhoods; rather, they are online, constant, and frequently undetectable, according to South Carolina lawmakers and child advocates.
As social media, apps, and cellphones become more and more ingrained in children’s lives, authorities are calling for a change in the way the government handles digital safety. The risks are increasing, from child exploitation to mental health issues, and there is a rising clamor for legislative intervention.
Children Are Now Digital Natives, But Online Dangers Are Real
Leaders in South Carolina caution that although children are more linked to technology than ever before, this does not always mean that they are safer.
“We need to keep children safe in all areas of their lives, including the digital space,” stated Senator Katrina Shealy, who chairs the state’s Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children. Shealy stressed in her statement that South Carolina needs to take the lead in developing protective legislation that tackles the ever-evolving risks that kids encounter on the internet.
This involves addressing problems such as:
-
Online grooming and exploitation
-
Access to harmful content and pornography
-
The rise of mental health problems linked to social media
-
Predatory behavior in unregulated digital spaces
Social Media and Pornography Laws Under Review
Legislators from South Carolina, including Shealy, have backed proposals that would limit access to explicit material and provide parents with additional resources to keep an eye on and safeguard their kids’ internet activities.
One such initiative is a plan to restrict exposure to online pornography, which has already been attempted by several jurisdictions, such as Arkansas and Utah, by mandating age verification on specific websites. Proponents contend that exposing kids to this kind of material is forming negative attitudes about consent and relationships.
The idea of parental supervision rules for social media is also being investigated by lawmakers, particularly in situations when the platforms gather behavioral data from children.
Experts Warn of Link Between Tech and Mental Health Decline
The effects of excessive screen time and digital dependency on children’s health have been the subject of several warnings from the American Academy of Pediatrics in recent years.
Mental health practitioners in South Carolina have expressed similar worries. A growing number of kids and teenagers are suffering social disengagement, anxiety, and sadness, which are frequently related to what they see or experience online.
Making sure children may grow up without being emotionally or digitally exploited is one of our main duties, Shealy stated.
Public Responsibility and Legislative Leadership
Public leadership is more important than parents in the fight for stricter child protection regulations. According to Senator Shealy and the committee, families, tech companies, schools, and legislators must all work together to establish safeguards that protect children while enabling them to take advantage of technology.
This comprises:
-
Improving digital literacy education
-
Establishing school-based resources for online safety
-
Collaborating with tech companies to enforce age restrictions
-
Updating legal definitions of child endangerment to include digital exposure
According to Shealy, South Carolina has a chance to take the lead in this area, but only if state leaders take decisive action.
Do you want to influence the discussion around child safety in the digital era?Please contact us at SaladaStandard-Sentinel.com with your opinions and policy suggestions.
