I don't see anyone offering alternate solutions in these conversations and I think the ban is a necessary evil
I do however think the ban should be more nuanced
The second is a product problem. Advertising, the 'algorithm', etc. For that, I do have a suggestion: force all social media sites to have ad-free versions which apply to the accounts of under eighteens, and attempt to reduce 'virality': no like buttons, ways to discourage reposts of original content, etc. so the timelines become less engagement driven.
When you buy a device, if you can't present ID (or the device is for a child), the vendor gives it to you in "child mode." Child mode has a whitelist/blacklist of all apps and websites that it can use. The list is set by the vendor, but modified by the federal government, state/provincial government, municipal government, school district, and parent/guardian (in that order, each overriding the previous.)
Perhaps in addition, devices in "child mode" always attach "do not show me adult content" to the HTTP headers they send to websites.
They could regulate the harmful algorithms.
They could make for-profit operating systems implement actually robust and easy parental controls. Anything to give parents more control.
Yeah agree with the last one, but I have wondered if parental controls will breakdown relationships between parent and kids. I see articles now and again about parents controlling kids causing issues?