Nu Wexler, the keynote speaker for the Charleston Law Review 17th annual Law & Society Symposium, opened the day’s event with an important message:

“We live in an era where the internet has become not just an indispensable part of our daily lives, but the very fabric that weaves together our modern society. From remote education and virtual healthcare to social connections and entertainment, the digital world touches every aspect of the human experience.”

Wexler, a founding partner of Four Corners Public Affairs that specializes in tech policy and AI, reminded the audience of the good, the bad and the ugly that the internet presents.

The Good: “The Internet is not just a tool. It’s in many cases a child’s primary window to the world. It offers unprecedented opportunities for learning, creativity and connection. A child in a rural community can take a virtual music lesson from a world class instructor or a teenage entrepreneur can launch a global business from their bedroom. These possibilities have seemed like science fiction just a generation ago.”

The Bad: “The digital revolution has a ‘darker side’ that we cannot ignore. The same platforms that enable education and connection also harbor cyberbullying that follow children from school, predators who exploit cyberspace, and algorithms designed to capture and hold young minds.”

The Ugly: “Children face challenges that no previous generation had to navigate. The pressure of constant social media performance, the anxiety of digital comparison, and the exposure to content that can range from merely inappropriate to actively dangerous.”

Wexler noted that he is not an attorney, saying his views and opinions are shaped have been shaped by his work experience on Capitol Hill, more than a decade working with safety teams at social platforms and “most importantly, as a father of two small girls who are beginning to see the world through connected devices.”

Wexler challenged the audience to begin critically thinking about ways in which we can protect our children in the digital age.

He suggested a solution:

“The answer lies in a multifaceted approach that includes education, accountability and innovation,” said Wexler. “Digital literacy is one of the most powerful tools we can give children.”

  • Develop healthy digital habits

Wexler believes the solution requires a “all-in” effort from schools, parents, and legal guidance. According to Wexler, the key is to “teach digital literacy from an early age, help kids understand risks, recognize manipulative content, and develop healthy digital habits and critical thinking skills.”

“Laws alone cannot create a safe internet,” he said. “Protecting children online requires a coordinated effort from parents, educators, tech companies and communities. Schools, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy groups must work together to provide resources, support victims, and push for corporate responsibility.”

  • Technology should not be a replacement for parenting

“Parents must actively engage in conversations about internet safety, set boundaries for screen time, and use parental controls effectively” adding “building trust is far more effective than relying on external regulations to shield children from harm.”

  • Push tech companies toward responsibility

“Policymakers should focus on specific, enforceable regulations — requiring age-appropriate default settings, banning addictive design featuring targeted feature banning addictive design features targeted at children, and improving transparency – we need smarter, targeted interventions that respect both safety and freedom of expression.”

  • Challenge the tech industry to innovate in ways that prioritize child well-being

This could mean developing AI driven moderation that is more nuanced, improving age verification technologies, or investing in ethical design practices that reduce social media addiction.

Wexler urged the audience to reconsider two approaches that have gained traction recently.

  1. Repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act
  2. Banning social media

Wexler believes that Section 230 allows platforms to remove harmful content without fear of being sued, claiming without it “companies may be reluctant to act against dangerous material, fearing legal liability. Others may go too far and stifle important conversations. The result could be a less safe internet. Not a safer one.”

Banning social media access to children and teens overlooks the realities of the digital world, said Wexler.

“The internet is the environment in which our children are growing up just as we work to make our physical spaces safe for children while preserving their ability to explore and grow. As we move forward, let us remember that our goal is not just to protect children from harm, but to prepare them for a future that will be increasingly digital by focusing on education.”

The half-day event titled Digital Delay: How to Address the Law’s Lag Behind Social Media’s Rapid Revolution explored regulatory frameworks that govern social media, potentially harmful flaws in social media algorithms, and the broader effects of social media use.

The 17th Annual Law & Society Symposium aims to facilitate a comprehensive dialog among legal scholars, policy makers, industry professionals, mental health experts who share a common goal of deepening our understanding of the opportunities and challenges.

“The internet is not going away, nor should it,” said Wexler. “Our task is to shape it into a space where our children can learn, grow, and connect safely. This is not just a technical challenge or a policy challenge. It’s a social imperative.”

RILEY INSITITUTE AT FURMAN UNIVERSITY

The Riley Institute empowers emerging and established leaders—across sectors and throughout society—with the knowledge and tools to advance equity and drive social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond. We work to strengthen public education; promote the power of diversity to help teams, organizations, and communities thrive; and elevate informed, evidence-based approaches to critical public issues. In all it does, the institute is committed to nonpartisanship and a bias-free path to change.

CHARLESTON LAW REVIEW

The Charleston Law Review is an independent organization composed entirely of second and third year students at the Charleston School of Law. In order to gain membership on the Charleston Law Review, students must compete in a writing competition that begins after the conclusion of spring semester finals. After completion of the writing competition, offers for membership are made to students based on a combination of grades and the scored writing piece.

The Charleston Law Review’s primary objective is to foster the knowledge and insight of students, practitioners, scholars, and the judiciary through a traditional forum dedicated to augmenting the pursuit of innovative legal expression, composition, and scholarship. Members of the Charleston Law Review contribute to this objective by editing articles, writing notes, and actively participating in all aspects of the publication process. This participation enables members of the Charleston Law Review to develop invaluable analytical skills and receive extensive writing and editing experience.