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It’s time to protect kids from social media
Re: “New Mexico jury says Meta harms children’s mental health and safety, violating state law” (March 24).
Social media has become something deeply embedded in our daily lives, but it has an effect on our mental health that deserves serious attention.
Although these platforms provide a space where people can connect and share experiences, they can also create an environment where unrealistic expectations and constant comparison can become an issue for many, especially youth. This constant comparison leads to anxiety, low self-esteem and depression.
Now that we know the cause of many kids and young adults anxiety problems and depression, it’s time to take action. Educating young people in school about the pros and cons of social media and helping create tools that limit time on certain apps would be a huge step in the right direction.
Badri Buni
San Jose
Attacks on pope show how deranged Trump is
Re: “Trump won’t apologize to Pope Leo, explains his reason for posting criticized meme” (Page A3, April 14).
Now the president is attacking the pope — the pope. Can no one see the insanity of Donald Trump and that Trump sees himself as a Christ figure?
This is too much. The Republicans will rue the day that they have allowed Trump to sacrifice our honor and jeopardize our freedom and safety. If we survive a post-Trump era, they will be held accountable, hopefully in trials displaying their cowardice and self-interest as they declared their fealty to a deranged egomaniac over their loyalty to their country.
Claudia Parker
San Jose
Youth programs steer kids to the right path
I grew up on the East Side of San Jose, where opportunities aren’t always easy to find. One thing that made a difference for me was being part of ConXión to Community’s Bright Futures program.
The program gave me guidance, support and something positive to stay focused on when it could’ve been easy to go the wrong direction. Not every kid in San Jose has access to programs like that, and that’s something we need to take seriously, especially with crime rates unacceptably high. Instead of only reacting after things happen, we should focus more on preventing crime. That starts with investing in youth programs in the neighborhoods that need them most.
These programs give kids structure, mentorship and real opportunities. They don’t just help individuals — they make communities safer. If we want real change, we need to make these programs more available across the city, not just in a few places.
Adrian Ruiz
San Jose
Charging high energy users will stabilize grid
Increased AI usage has caused states to struggle with their sustainability goals. Nevada has found it likely that they will rely on fossil fuels and miss energy targets. Meanwhile, North Carolina faces coal plant shutdowns, continuing to build more natural gas plants to keep up with demand.
A local change, SB 978, would require the California Public Utilities Commission to establish a special rate structure for large energy users of at least 75 megawatts. Therefore, high energy consumers, such as data centers, are held accountable for their impact on the electrical grid — a highly encouraged solution to overloaded energy usage.
Rachel Tat
San Jose
Teach kids internet safety when young
The more we advance technology, the more it becomes conjoined with daily life. It is important to learn about digital safety from an early age because it can affect and take up a large portion of a person’s life. Students are increasingly online, even though many do not have the skills to act safely and critically.
Mandatory tech literacy classes would teach students to identify misinformation and protect their own data on the internet. Safe habits regarding internet usage need to be built and maintained from an early age to help people navigate the internet for the rest of their lives.
Middle schoolers are adaptable and still forming digital habits, so it is a pivotal time to ingrain important lessons on safety while they are still very receptive to them and before major complications arise.
Sanh Nguyen
San Jose
In turbulent times, we choose what to elevate
The events of the last several days remind me of the movie “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.”
The good: Humanity still reaches for the stars. From the awe of a moon launch to the ingenuity and courage behind it, we are reminded of what we can achieve at our best — united by curiosity, ambition and hope.
The bad: The war with Iran reflects the tragic endurance of violence, where diplomacy fails, and lives are lost, dimming the very progress we celebrate.
The ugly: Our discourse itself is deteriorating. When leaders like Donald Trump publicly attack figures such as Pope Leo XIV — calling him “weak” and “terrible” over calls for peace — it reveals a coarsening of tone at the highest levels.
We live in a time of stark contrasts: extraordinary achievement alongside needless conflict and corrosive rhetoric. The challenge is not choosing which defines us, but deciding which we will elevate.
Gregory Carlsted
San Jose
