Social Media Archives

🎯 The Illusion of Action

Last year, the U.S. Congress summoned the leaders of the major social media platforms for a much-publicized hearing. The goal, at least on paper, was important: protecting our children online. However, instead of leading to actionable steps, much of the discussion devolved into political theater.

One of the few tangible outcomes?
Meta decided to shut down its own content validation team, the team responsible for monitoring and verifying the nature of content on its platforms.

Why?
Because they realized that simply having such a team made them a target. If they claimed to review content, they could be held accountable for it.

🚧 Platforms Are Not the Police

I often compare the digital world to our roads. Think of telecom providers as those who build the highways, responsible for infrastructure. Digital platforms are like car manufacturers, giving us the means to travel.

But just as we don’t expect Toyota or a road company to enforce driver behavior, we shouldn’t expect social media platforms to police every user. That job belongs to regulators.

🌍 A Borderless World, A Regulatory Void

Here’s the problem: roads exist within countries. Each has its own laws and enforcement. But the digital world? It knows no borders. Harmful behavior, bullying, exploitation, and misinformation flow freely across apps, servers, and time zones.

We’re left without a single authority responsible for setting global standards.

🧭 The Need for an Over-Authority

What we’re missing is a global entity, an overarching authority to regulate the digital world. A body with teeth. Not owned by governments or corporations, but with the ability to define and enforce rules that protect the most vulnerable, especially our children.

Sounds like science fiction? It might be. But maybe that’s exactly what we need.

🌌 Sci-Fi Had It Right All Along

Take Star Wars, for example. The Galactic Republic tried to govern thousands of planets through a central senate and shared laws. However, even that grand vision crumbled under the weight of bureaucracy and manipulation.

Today’s digital world faces a similar fate. We don’t need lightsabers or hyperspace, but we do need structure, clarity, and above all: accountability

🛡️ What We’re Doing at PureSight

At PureSight, we’re not waiting for global policy to catch up. We’ve built AI-powered tools that empower parents to protect their kids online, right now. Tools that detect risks like cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and harmful content. Tools that work regardless of what the tech giants choose to do.

Because families can’t afford to wait.

🧠 A Call for Vision and Action

Technology alone isn’t enough. We need bold thinking, shared responsibility, and a new kind of regulator for a borderless world. Our kids deserve nothing less.

Let’s build something better for them.

Royi Cohen, CEO of PureSight

At the beginning of the month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul made headlines by announcing a bold new policy: starting in the 2025–2026 school year, the use of smartphones will be banned in public elementary schools across the state. This is more than just a policy change; it’s a powerful statement of values: let’s give our children back their ability to focus, to learn, and to build real social connections.

Governor Kathy Hochul ’s decision not only puts important regulations in motion, but it also raises critical public awareness. Educators and parents alike have seen the negative effects of constant digital distraction on young children. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve witnessed firsthand how the lack of in-person interaction has affected our children’s social development. This new initiative creates space, literally and figuratively , for kids to engage with the world around them.

Still, even though the goal is clear and important, the situation is more complicated. Today, digital platforms are a big part of kids’ social lives. Even in elementary schools where smartphones are usually not allowed, teachers sometimes ask students to use them in class, for learning activities or to practice using digital tools. Like it or not, these devices are part of how children learn to live and grow in the modern world.

We, as parents, are living this dilemma every day. On one hand, we want our children to enjoy a screen-free childhood, full of real-life adventures, face-to-face conversations, and undivided attention. On the other hand, we understand that knowing how to use digital tools is no longer a choice. We must teach our kids how to navigate online platforms safely, ethically, and effectively. And to teach them, we sometimes need to let them use these tools.

At PureSight, we deeply understand these challenges. That’s exactly why we’ve built our digital parenting tools, Surfie, to help families manage this balancing act. Our AI-powered service provides smart alerts to parents when online threats emerge, such as cyberbullying, sextortion, or predatory behavior, allowing parents to intervene when it matters most.

This is the kind of support families need: not just rules or restrictions, but practical, adaptive tools that allow children to grow safely in both the physical and digital worlds.

So yes, Governor Hochul’s initiative is a big step in the right direction. But let’s also remember that keeping kids safe in the digital age requires more than bans. It requires education, collaboration, and smart solutions that empower both parents and children.