Protecting the Young From the World

THERE IS NO DOUBT that the internet in general, and social media in particular, is a swamp, a cultural morass. A reflection of society in general. It seems reasonable to assume that nearly everybody agrees on that point. Hell, isn't about one half of the internet pornography? Whatever the percentage, its considerable, and shocking. Another thing we might all agree on is the solution to the problem. Its the same solution for everybody; turn off your computer Perhaps we even agree that cultural choices, choices pertianing to what music to listen to, what books to read, what movies to watch, what clothing to wear, how to speak, are best left to the free market in a free and democratic society. The free market of culture and intellect, where all ideals, seemingly, at least in these United States, stand a chance. It almost seems that somewhere or other, in some remote nook and cranny if nowhere else, no matter how crass, base, or horrible the cultural offering, there is a market for it, if only a small one. In other words the masses do not always have good taste. Presumably this is true in any culture past or present; it is certainly true in America, the land of opportunity for financial gain through vulgarity and mediocrity. Most Americans would much rather live in a culture which has a crass, vulgar, seemy side, with the freedom to ignore the vulgarity, and allow the cultural free market to determine what succeeds and what fails, what is popular and what is not, and, above all else, keep the damned government out of it. All censorship is bad. Government censorship is tyranny. All believe that, except for the far right wing evangelical Christian conservative community, as represented by the Republican party. Conservatism has always been destined to lose the cultural wars, and their losses are increasingly evident today. Human culture, all aspects of it, is by nature liberal, progressive, dynamic, changing, sexual, and, in many instances, vulgar. So be it. In the U.S.A., we Americans generlallly do not take kindly to our govenment telling us what books we can read, and what muisic we can enjoy. Except for the authoritarian Republican party, that is. Red states all across the fruited plain are passing laws criminalizing mention of racism, sexual diversity, many books, and honest, accurate, albeit unflattering American history. All these laws are bad. They are examples of government abuse,infringements on intellectual freedom. In Florida, the governoer just the other day want much further; he signed into law a law prohibiting children under the age of fourteen from having social media accounts. One must assume that Floridian young people are shocked and angered, and that much of the state is in turmoil over this controversial, heavy handed government intrusion. From now on, the court system will take over in Florida, probably processing hundreds of lawsuits on the matter. The dreadful specter of the SCOTUS lurks, if only in the background, for now. How on Earth will Florida enforce this law? By knocking on doors and inspecting personal computers? By strictly monitoring internet use in every home in the state? How much farther will we go in using the government as a cultural overlord? That would seem to depend laregly on how well the Republican party does in near future elections.