The User Protection Act aims to protect users on social media platforms and their health. Unfortunately, we currently prioritize user data over the users themselves. Especially due to the increasing time young people spend on social networks, a User Protection Act is essential. There are currently too many gray areas that can have unforeseen consequences for all users. In this case, precautions should be taken, and social media platforms should be obliged to establish a fund. 

 

While it's true that individuals bear responsibility for their actions, parallels can be drawn with alcohol, gambling, or smoking. Youth protection takes precedence, as evidenced by legal age restrictions on these substances to shield young people from negative effects. Similarly, social media platforms, integral to our lives, should grant access to young individuals while safeguarding them from specific content and algorithms until they reach legal age (or even beyond).

 

We hereby urge platforms to expand user protection through several measures:

 

• Abolish endless video feeds (below you can find the reasons for that) and endless screens for infinite scrolling.
• Introduce an obligatory "For-You-Page" that may occupy a maximum size of one screen in 4k resolution.
• After finishing a video, the user must return to the "For-You-Page" to start the next video, except for playlists and music streams longer than 60 minutes.
• The ad frequency is proportionate to video length, and ad time should not exceed 10% of watch time. These 10% include in-video ads with timestamps provided by the content creator and all ads before, after, and during the video by the social media platform. Example: A video of 10 minutes length allows a total of 1 minute in advertising. 
• Sponsored posts, advertisements, and paid user-generated content also count as advertising. A user should see a maximum of 10% of sponsored posts and ads in total.
• Banning algorithms designed solely to increase user watch time or identified as leading to addictive behavior.
• Disclosure of algorithms to users and authorities, enabling transparency and understanding of algorithmic decisions. 
• Users must have the right to deactivate algorithms collecting data of their behavior and to delete already collected data. Additionally, users should be able to set their interests manually using hashtags in the settings.
• Social media platforms must allocate 5% of the revenue generated in the country to a counseling center that educates about the dangers of social media and covers costs for medical treatments and clinical research in this area.
• The User Protection Act must be continuously expanded or updated to align with current trends.
• Implementation of the Content Creator Compliance Act for increased security and transparency regarding the uploaded content.

 

We ask all social media platforms to: 

1. establish clear communication about data practices and privacy policies.
2. establish easy ways for users to adjust their privacy settings.
3. establish algorithms that recognize unhealthy or excessive usage of their platform.
4. establish an information system for users with an unhealthy or excessive usage of their platform.
5. limit the number and duration of ads to a maximum of 10% of the watch time.
6. label advertisements clearly to ensure transparency.
7. establish clear guidelines and prompt responses to reports of harassment or abuse.
8. provide resources to educate users about potential dangers.
9. allocate a portion of their revenue to counseling centers for mental health and online safety.
10. establish opportunities for users to control personalized content and advertising.
11. establish the right for users to easily delete their data collected by the platform without the need of deleting the account.
12. Implement a Content Creator Compliance Act for increased security and transparency regarding the uploaded content.

 

We ask governments to: 

1. Establish regulations for algorithms used in social media apps to ensure they do not promote addictive behavior or problematic content.
2. Prohibit the use of algorithms that unethically analyze personal data.
3. Establish regulations that need to be implemented by social media platforms for the identification and combat of inappropriate content and cyberbullying.
4. Establish programs for digital education and media literacy.
5. Establish counseling centers for mental health and online safety.
6. Involve experts in mental health, data privacy, and ethics in the development of regulations.
7. Helping to create a Content Creator Compliance Act for increased security and transparency regarding the uploaded content.

 

Why do we want to abolish endless video feeds?

1. The constant stream of short, engaging content can trigger a dopamine response, making users more likely to keep scrolling, leading to potential addictive behavior.
2. Users may lose track of time while engaging with endless loops, spending more time on these platforms than intended, which can have implications for overall time management and productivity.
3. Constantly switching between short videos can contribute to a shortened attention span, making it challenging for users to focus on longer and more in-depth content.
4. Endless loops often showcase curated, idealized moments, fostering a culture of social comparison that can negatively impact users' self-esteem and mental well-being.
5. Excessive use of endless loops, particularly before bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns as the stimulating content may make it difficult for users to unwind and relax.
6. Algorithms that prioritize content based on user preferences can create echo chambers, reinforcing existing beliefs and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.
7. The rapid consumption of content may increase exposure to cyberbullying or harmful content, as users may not have sufficient time to assess the potential impact of what they are viewing.
8. The algorithms are designed to keep users engaged for longer periods, potentially leading to unintentional manipulation of user behavior by prioritizing content that generates more interaction.
9. The combination of addictive nature, social comparison, and exposure to potentially distressing content can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or feelings of inadequacy.

 

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