“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” It’s a saying we’ve all heard before, and while it’s often a warning, not every repetition of history is bad. In fact, revisiting past solutions to social challenges shows how private industry often steps up to the plate—solving problems without the downsides of government overreach. Case in point: airplane mode and child-safety settings.
If you’ve flown recently, you’ve probably heard the flight attendant’s familiar instructions: buckle up, stow your tray table, and switch your devices to airplane mode. While it’s second nature now, airplane mode didn’t exist when wireless technology first took off. Back then, there were concerns that cell phone signals might interfere with an airplane’s navigation or communication systems.
Today, interference is seen as more of a nuisance than a danger as no plane has ever crashed because someone forgot to switch their phone off. But in the early days, the risks weren’t so clear. Enter private industry. Long before government regulators could step in, tech innovators created airplane mode, giving travelers a way to use devices without sending signals. As Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, explains in Pivot or Die, this private-sector solution preempted the need for regulation, proving that industry could respond faster and more effectively than legislation.
Now, we’re seeing a similar story play out with social media and youth mental health. There’s growing concern that apps like Instagram or TikTok are harming teens’ well-being. And while this worry feels intuitive to many parents, science isn’t settled. Studies so far haven’t established a strong causal link between social media and mental health issues, as the American Consumer Institute has previously pointed out.
Thankfully, even in the absence of clear evidence, social media companies are stepping up. Platforms are rolling out features like silent notifications, privacy controls, and curated content filters designed specifically for younger users. These tools empower parents and help kids navigate the online world safely—all without the need for sweeping, one-size-fits-all government regulations.
Regulation is a blunt instrument, it’s slow, can have unintended consequences, and often lags behind the problem it’s trying to solve. Private solutions, on the other hand, are nimble and targeted. They can address specific concerns quickly, as we’ve seen with both airplane mode and social media controls.
Of course, future research may reveal new insights into the impact of social media on mental health. However, acting prematurely with government regulation risks creating more problems than it solves. Private solutions give us a way to address concerns now, without locking everyone into rigid, potentially outdated rules.
The lesson is clear: history shows that private industry is often better equipped to tackle emerging issues than heavy-handed government action. Whether it’s making air travel safer or creating a healthier digital environment for teens, private solutions empower individuals, adapt to change, and avoid sweeping impacts on everyone else.
Let’s applaud those solutions and encourage more of them. Sometimes, repeating history is exactly what we need.
Tirzah Duren is the Vice President of Policy and Research at the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit educational and research organization. You can follow her on X @ConsumerPal.