RE: https://eupolicy.social/@hpod16/117286020053320946

"Teenagers are spending on AVERAGE 4-6 hours online per day, instead of going outside and interacting with humans."

I did that in the early 80s with a book, TV, videogame, or computer. If there's a problem here, it's that parents and institutions do a really poor job of socializing teens. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, a therapist, and improv class would've done miracles at that age but those weren't available to me at that time and place.

Had I been asked in a way that I could articulate an answer about _why_ I didn't want to go outside and interact with other humans, I'd have said primarily anxiety and self-conciousness. Basically there was no place to go that was interesting that didn't involve spending money or dealing with "cops" (those that police a space, not necessarily literal police).

Of the people who registered with me, most were dull or assholes. Some of that was perception but a lot was that I got less enjoyment being around most people than I did buried in a book, game, or programming project.

I doubt my experience is universal but I did experience it.

I'm no sociologist or psychologist but I'm going to guess a lot of the core issues around spaces and people and guidance and behaviors haven't changed much in the last 4 decades. I seriously doubt there was ever a halcyon era for being a teen; parents and institutions and communities do a crap job of socializing teens and always have. It's difficult; it takes time, effort, space, willingness, ability, and resources. Plus there's the keys-locked-in-car problem that you need well-socialized adults to socialize the next generation and nobody has figured out how that first generation of well-socialized adults was socialized. Well-adjusted chicken and the egg.

I'm not going to address the remainder of the original post; I don't have a useful opinion on EU regulation. The "instead of going outside and interacting with humans" part struck a nerve; solitude is often a coping mechanism, a symptom rather than a disorder, and as with many dysfunctions it's systemic and organizational rather being purely isolated to the subject.

Finally, much of that "screen time" is peers interacting with peers. It's just not recognized as social for reasons of ignorance and agenda.

As I recall, @Garwboy has written extensively on this subject (go buy his books or at least read them). He's a trained professional and can speak better about the issue.