Tech restrictions may push users to unregulated platforms, expert warns

Efforts by tech companies and governments to restrict the use of social media and artificial intelligence, particularly for younger users, may prove ineffective and could push individuals toward unregulated platforms, according to technology professor Uttara Ananthakrishnan. Drawing a parallel to the Prohibition era in the United States, where alcohol consumption levels remained high despite the ban, Ananthakrishnan suggests that outright restrictions on widely adopted technologies are difficult to enforce and often lead to users finding ways to circumvent them.

Ananthakrishnan's research indicates that when adult websites implemented age-verification checks, users migrated to sites without such measures. Similarly, Australia's ban on social media for those under 16 has seen teens quickly return to these platforms by providing incorrect ages or using VPNs. Meta has introduced new restrictions for teen users on Instagram and Facebook, including daily time limits and nighttime blocks, but without industry-wide standardization, users may simply shift to other platforms offering unrestricted access.

In education, New York City and Los Angeles have implemented bans on generative AI in classrooms. New York's policy restricts access on school hardware for younger students and mandates AI literacy courses for high schoolers. Critics argue these measures could lead to unmonitored AI use outside of educational contexts. Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, advocates for policies that teach responsible AI usage rather than outright bans.