So what is the solution? How do we rid ourselves of these algorithms or of these influencers?
Without a functioning government that actually prioritizes public health, there is no ridding ourselves of either. Towards the bottom of the article is a link to a document put together by the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center titled “Not Just a Joke” which helps to explain the problem, frame it through a public health lens, and provide broad tips for intervention at various levels of social support. Like most public health crises, there is not a simple “answer” to a complex problem and the best solution is to provide resources to a variety of places recognizing that each of them touch lives in unique ways and that each of them will be able to help affect a positive change on some individuals based on who those individuals might be willing to listen to and trust.
So basically, of we can’t reverse this shit we just wait for the US to collapse?
Just going off my experience with stepsons a decade ago – so, before the manosphere bullshit had hit its stride – teens will look things up specifically because it disagrees with their upbringing. This isn’t all bad, as it exposes them to new ideas (something the boys desperately needed after a decade of praise for agreeing with anything mom said), and it’s a logical progression from earlier methods of being rebellious.
To me, the larger issue is the amount of demand for such content moreso than its existence. People have been saying ignorant shit online since BBSs and likely earlier. The issue is parents aren’t pushing back. Being grounded but retaining one’s phone is just a vacation from parental intrusion.
We aren’t talking about kids who need phones for 2FA to conduct banking. “But then how will my friends reach me?” “Doesn’t really matter since you’re grounded.” Any parent who relies on their kids having a cell phone to keep tabs on them is a rather lousy parent. Engage with them in person to steer them in the right direction.
