“It’s on parents to set the limits”

 Los Angeles Times,  March 26, 2026

As an advocate of free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment, I disagree with the jury’s verdict, and am very concerned for the future of internet freedom.

I don’t know what the plaintiff’s early history was that could have contributed to the psychological problems she described, but I do know one thing: Social media companies are certainly not responsible for that.

I am not talking just about the plaintiff in this case. It is the job of parents to teach their children the difference between right and wrong, and cultivate in them a strong will to avoid addictive behaviors. Parents need to keep an eye on their children’s viewing activities and set their own limits. As children turn into teenagers, they should be learning to set their own limits.

At the end of the day, individuals need to be able to resist wrong or unsuitable behavior on their own. Individuals need to be able to resist wrong. This includes not just “bad” speech, but also government over-reach in many areas.

Alice Lillie, Pomona