Deputy Minister Óscar Ballén: We are ready / Multimedia Editor's Analysis

Recently, I had the opportunity to share with the acting Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, Óscar Alexander Ballén Cifuentes, at EL TIEMPO around an artificial intelligence event, but a topic came up that immediately connected us: the role of social networks in the care of children and minors in Colombia.

Given that social networks are highly relevant players in the informational and educational landscape of Colombia, as well as in the general business ecosystem and economy, due to their vast reach, massive audiences, we shared the same concern: how to effectively regulate these digital giants in their direct responsibility for the care, well-being, and proper emotional and intellectual development of millions of minors in Colombia?

Vice Minister Ballén, who has already stated this publicly on other occasions, referred to how the great official efforts for digital training, ICT education, and investment in protection and education programs in digital environments such as Ciberpaz, among others, are completely undermined by the lack of control and management of networks such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, among others, which not only enable the circulation of harmful, empty, and undignified content, but also allow illegal groups to openly promote 'their lifestyle' of weapons, easy money, and 'power' to recruit minors in the regions and cities.

The official also acknowledged the reach of the powerful lobbying these companies exert when it comes to creating spaces for regulatory discussion. “It’s a challenge,” Ballén stated.

You are right, Deputy Minister. We have said it dozens of times in this space: social media in Colombia is more powerful than traditional media, it has a huge impact on public opinion and is directly responsible for the uncontrolled circulation of messages of political hatred, misogyny, deadly viral challenges, glorification of alcohol and drug use, manipulation of the truth , and direct responsibility for the promotion of disinformation, and nothing happens.

Unlike the media, which complies with dozens of regulations, controls and obligations, social networks hide behind their story of 'self-regulation' or, as you have correctly detected, Deputy Minister, behind the screen of 'freedom of expression', to evade the direct responsibility they have for the well-being of all.

These networks have, of course, great beneficial potential, which should be reinforced towards pedagogy, business promotion, social entrepreneurship, and the encouragement of knowledge, without algorithmic conveniences and aligned, at a minimum, with the responsibilities that we in the media have for respect for objectivity, values ​​and freedom of expression, safeguarding, first and foremost, the dignity and truth of the facts.

What do we do, Deputy Minister? We are ready to support.