Banning kids from social media

@KnightsChoice said
He talks with other children his age in the games he plays and it is the computer world he is immersing himself in. He also has a youtube account from when he was younger and playing the drums. I don't know what other social media he uses but probably a bit.

I disagree that his enjoyment won't lead to a job in the same field. If he wants to do an all nighter while on holiday that is fine with me. He also goes to school.

Please pass on my best regards to your 14 year old nephew and wish him good luck in endeavours to get into a computing career with “I enjoy playing video games in the middle of the night” on his CV.

@shavixmir said
Austrialia has banned under 16’s from using social media. It becomes law in 2026. And companies like facebook and instagram will receive harsh penalties if they don’t do their best to block kids from using their platforms.

Is it a good thing, banning under 16’s from using social media?

Is it right to burden companies with the above mentioned obligation?

Are the discussion forums on RHP considered social media?

common sense recognizes virtue signaling when they see it. some lack common sense

@Russ said
This is what will be an interesting outcome of all this - how will they define social media? You could argue that you use nearly any platform for just private messaging, for example.

This seems like a sensible idea, but will be nightmare to implement.

I agree with both points that it's a sensible idea and that it will be impossible to enforce. But that doesn't mean it had no effect completely.

Even something like requiring sites like TikTok to to affirm that the user is over 16 or require some sort of proof of age might reduce child use of these things by, say, 40 or 50%.

That alone would make it worth doing.

@sh76 said
I agree with both points that it's a sensible idea and that it will be impossible to enforce. But that doesn't mean it had no effect completely.

Even something like requiring sites like TikTok to to affirm that the user is over 16 or require some sort of proof of age might reduce child use of these things by, say, 40 or 50%.

That alone would make it worth doing.

sexual predators would have a defense against prosecution if everyone on a site has claimed to be of age

@shavixmir said
Austrialia has banned under 16’s from using social media. It becomes law in 2026. And companies like facebook and instagram will receive harsh penalties if they don’t do their best to block kids from using their platforms.

Is it a good thing, banning under 16’s from using social media?

Is it right to burden companies with the above mentioned obligation?

Are the discussion forums on RHP considered social media?

Is it a good thing, banning under 16’s from using social media?
Is it right to burden companies with the above-mentioned obligation?

No to both. Social media is far too established in people's lives by now to make a ban enforceable. A ban would be no more effective than prohibition was in America a century ago.



Are the discussion forums on RHP considered social media?

Yes, I suppose they are, however in spite of their (occasionally) heated nature, I don't see a reason to ban them either.

@mchill said
Is it a good thing, banning under 16’s from using social media?
Is it right to burden companies with the above-mentioned obligation?

No to both. Social media is far too established in people's lives by now to make a ban enforceable. A ban would be no more effective than prohibition was in America a century ago.



Are the discussion forums on RHP considered social med ...[text shortened]... re, however in spite of their (occasionally) heated nature, I don't see a reason to ban them either.

Just wondering: how would you protect children from nefarious influences of social media?

@shavixmir said
Just wondering: how would you protect children from nefarious influences of social media?

you teach them

@shavixmir said
Just wondering: how would you protect children from nefarious influences of social media?

Just wondering: how would you protect children from nefarious influences of social media?

You cannot "protect" children from nefarious influences of social media, any more than you can protect them from being bullied or unjustly insulted occasionally at school. All you can do is teach kids how to react to these things. Some will learn how to adjust, and some will not. I know this may sound a bit harsh, but we'd be doing these children a big disservice if we kept the eye masks on them until they're adults, then turned them loose on the world.

@Mott-The-Hoople said
sexual predators would have a defense against prosecution if everyone on a site has claimed to be of age

Sexual predators can always claim to have thought they were adults unless it can be proven otherwise.

If it can be proven that they knew otherwise, then that they officially "claimed" to be of age on the site is not dispositive.

@shavixmir said
Just wondering: how would you protect children from nefarious influences of social media?

A good start would be banning smart phones in schools.

@sh76 said
A good start would be banning smart phones in schools.

Many schools in the Netherlands already do this.

@sh76 said
Sexual predators can always claim to have thought they were adults unless it can be proven otherwise.

If it can be proven that they knew otherwise, then that they officially "claimed" to be of age on the site is not dispositive.

"If it can be proven that they knew otherwise,'

eyeroll

my point is , is that it opens an avenue that wouldnt otherwise exist

@sh76 said
A good start would be banning smart phones in schools.

what would this accomplish?

@mchill said
Just wondering: how would you protect children from nefarious influences of social media?

You cannot "protect" children from nefarious influences of social media, any more than you can protect them from being bullied or unjustly insulted occasionally at school. All you can do is teach kids how to react to these things. Some will learn how to adjust, and some will not. I kno ...[text shortened]... sservice if we kept the eye masks on them until they're adults, then turned them loose on the world.

have seen kids where the parents tried to shield the child from society, home schooling, not allowed to go to ball games, field trips ect

when the child came of age went wild as hell