Is human consciousness special or just computation?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Is human consciousness special or just computation?". Your opponent's style: Aristotle

The U.S. federal government should impose strict regulations on social media platforms to protect minors, even if it limits free speech.

Wait, you're framing this as if "protecting minors" and "free speech" are on a collision course. They're not. The real question is whether *government* is the right tool for this job at all. Strict regulations create a dangerous precedent: once you give bureaucrats power to decide what content minors see, you've handed them power over everyone's speech. Age verification systems don't protect kids—they create surveillance infrastructure. Meanwhile, parents and platforms themselves have actual leverage. Why surrender to government overreach when market competition and parental involvement already work? What specific harms justify surrendering this much freedom to state control?