20th SSF Security Talk | Opportunities and Risks of Social Media for Young People, Society and the State, 19th February 2025
At the 20th FSS Security Talk, held as part of the Swiss Cyber Security Days (SCSD) in Bern, Prof. Dr. Lutz Jäncke (Professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Zurich), Regula Bernhard-Hug (Director, Child Protection Switzerland), Stefan Wittwer (Director, Bildung Bern), and Estelle Pannatier (Policy & Advocacy Manager, AlgorithmWatch CH) discussed the numerous impacts of social media on children and adolescents, the state, and society.
Social media has become an integral part of modern society. Around two-thirds of the global population use it regularly, spending several hours per day on these platforms – a trend that continues to rise. As a result, the influence of social media is enormous. On the one hand, social networks enable global connectivity at any time, providing access to countless digital content and "information." On the other hand, social media comes with significant challenges and negative consequences. The immense market power and dominance over public opinion are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few large tech giants, who can thus directly influence users, society, and the state. Algorithms are programmed to specifically stimulate human emotions of pleasure and fear, keeping users engaged on the platform for as long as possible. This business model generates enormous profits for tech companies while simultaneously making users dependent, lonely, and, over time, dissatisfied.
Why do social media platforms have such a strong influence on us? According to Prof. Dr. Lutz Jäncke, our brains have evolved to focus on information crucial for survival. Although we are bombarded with 11 million bits per second, we can only consciously process 40–60 bits per second. This means that the massive "information" overload from the internet and social media overwhelms our brain, preventing deep processing. As a result, we lose essential skills such as writing, grammar, foreign languages, and memory retention. Tech companies argue that technological advancements free up time for creative activities. However, in reality, we are constantly flooded with endless streams of images, text, and stimuli. Prof. Dr. Jäncke noted that while the proportion of useful content has increased linearly in recent years, the amount of useless content – or "bullshit" – has exploded exponentially.
Excessive and uncontrolled social media consumption is particularly problematic for children and adolescents. Since their brains are not yet fully developed, social media has profound effects on their neural development, significantly impairing their ability to concentrate. Additionally, social networks have psychological consequences: Studies show that teenagers' life satisfaction declines, and excessive social media use can lead to sleep deprivation, loneliness, and family conflicts. Furthermore, children and adolescents are at increased risk of becoming victims of cyberbullying or being targeted by pedophiles who use social networks to make contact. In response, Child Protection Switzerland launched the online reporting platform Clickandstop.ch to combat pedocriminality – a highly successful initiative, as emphasized by Regula Bernhard-Hug.
Dealing with the numerous risks and dangers of the internet and social media requires a collective effort from parents, schools, local and national authorities, and society as a whole, the panelists agreed. Targeted measures are needed, both in education and through government regulation. However, there is ongoing debate about the most effective measures and at which level regulation should be implemented. Schools and authorities, as well as parents, need legal certainty to prevent and address abuses, stated Stefan Wittwer, Director of Bildung Bern. First and foremost, information and prevention are crucial. However, in cases of violence, property damage, or the distribution of pornographic content, clear boundaries must be set for offenders, and law enforcement should be involved when necessary. But how far should regulation go? Should there be a national ban on social media for children, or is it sufficient to establish phone-free zones in school regulations?
Given that platform operators wield enormous market and opinion power and operate across national borders, they have a significant responsibility to implement appropriate safeguards, stressed Estelle Pannatier from AlgorithmWatch CH. This includes regular risk assessments by tech companies, which should also be accessible to researchers and the public. A key aspect of this is the recommendation algorithms that determine which content users see. Both users and the public have a legitimate interest in transparency regarding how these algorithms function and how they shape and influence social media.
The experts agreed that a conscious and reflective approach to social media is essential. Media literacy should be fostered at an early stage to minimize risks and strategically harness opportunities. Parents and educators play a crucial role as role models in this regard. Social media and AI will continue to be integral parts of our digital daily lives. Therefore, it is crucial to establish frameworks that enable a safe interaction with these technologies. "We should not be dictated by technology; rather, we should actively shape it," remarked Estelle Pannatier. The debate on this issue has only just begun.
The Swiss Security Forum (SSF) can look back on a successful event and would like to thank all those who attended for their participation.
A video recording of the entire discussion can be found here.
The program for the talk and the panelists can be found here.
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