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UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

bbc.co.uk

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Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#81

Post by MichaelBurge »

ajeet_dhaliwal wrote: post #59

I understand this is unpopular on HN and I don't think this is the right approach either but what is the solution? Or do you think there's no problem at all? I think it is a potential problem where some young people don't realize that some fairly disgusting and extreme sex acts are not the norm and start dating thinking that is what you do instead of loving someone, that would cause them serious issues in developing…

Parents can buy internet filtering software such as Net Nanny and install it on all the family computers.

That does leave open the possibility that some children would be exposed to "extreme sex acts", and this would probably disproportionately affect the poor.

The government providing free voluntary filtering software would probably irk people less than the government policing morals.

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#82

Post by kofejnik »

averagewall wrote: post #44

This sounds silly, but the existing situation is also silly. Kids aren't allowed to go to pornographic movies in cinemas. What's the point of those restrictions, which people have been happy with for probably 100 years, when they are allowed to do all that online? It sounds like the law should be harmonized one way or another - open everything up or close everything down, otherwise it's pointless.

> it's pointless

you're starting to get it

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#83

Post by noufalibrahim »

This sounds like yet another solution that can be easily bypassed by the typical technically proficient teenager with raging hormones.

I recently read an article about how easy access to an almost unlimited amount of pornography is giving boys unrealistic sexual expectations and placing unreasonable demands on girls. I can't find the link to the article right now but from this and several others that I've read, this is a real problem. Issues like personal freedom, consent and others are all true. However, the typical website has a vested interest in making sure that it's offerings reach a large audience and I'm sure they're not beyond pushing the envelope a little to make that happen.

What is a solution?

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#84

Post by booleandilemma »

onion2k wrote: post #80
ajeet_dhaliwal wrote: post #59

I understand this is unpopular on HN and I don't think this is the right approach either but what is the solution? Or do you think there's no problem at all? I think it is a potential problem where some young people don't realize that some fairly disgusting and extreme sex acts are not the norm and start dating thinking that is what you do instead of loving someone, that would cause them serious issues in developing…

some young people don't realize that some fairly disgusting and extreme sex acts are not the norm and start dating thinking that is what you do instead of loving someone Banning porn doesn't even begin to address that problem. People talk. They boast about what they do, and the more naive people go ahead and do those things too because they believe that's what they should be doing. That's true in everything , not jus…

People talk. They boast about what they do, and the more naive people go ahead and do those things too because they believe that's what they should be doing.

This happens to be why my company is using a NoSQL database in one of its new projects.

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#85

Post by toyg »

raesene6 wrote: post #52
fredley wrote: post #11

This is, of course, completely barmy regulation. The most interesting thing will be the decision over what classifies as a porn website. Currently, as a teenager, you're probably most likely to 'stumble across' (i.e. view unintentionally) pornography on non-porn sites like Reddit or Tumblr. Will the regulations require age verification for these sites? If not it will not even begin to achieve its stated aims.

AFAIK it's commercial sites only, so you're dead right this legislation has failed before they even try and implement it.

Well, youporn is mostly free - is that considered "commercial"?

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#86

Post by icebraining »

ajeet_dhaliwal wrote: post #59

I understand this is unpopular on HN and I don't think this is the right approach either but what is the solution? Or do you think there's no problem at all? I think it is a potential problem where some young people don't realize that some fairly disgusting and extreme sex acts are not the norm and start dating thinking that is what you do instead of loving someone, that would cause them serious issues in developing…

Thing is, do you really think teenagers will stop accessing porn? No; they'll just pirate it rather than access the free sites.

A solution that imposes costs but doesn't actually solve the problem is worse than doing nothing.

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#87

Post by raesene6 »

toyg wrote: post #85
raesene6 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK it's commercial sites only, so you're dead right this legislation has failed before they even try and implement it.

Well, youporn is mostly free - is that considered "commercial"?

I think the tube sites would be considered commercial 'cause they're run by the commercial porn companies. What won't be covered as far as I'm aware is things like reddit, tumblr etc

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#88

Post by tombh »

ajeet_dhaliwal wrote: post #59

I understand this is unpopular on HN and I don't think this is the right approach either but what is the solution? Or do you think there's no problem at all? I think it is a potential problem where some young people don't realize that some fairly disgusting and extreme sex acts are not the norm and start dating thinking that is what you do instead of loving someone, that would cause them serious issues in developing…

I think it's clear that this is purely political. If the government truly had sexual health in mind then blatant sexualised advertising on the streets would be part of the conversation.

Re: UK plans age verification for porn websites from 2018

#90

Post by vacri »

manmal wrote: post #71
ajeet_dhaliwal wrote: post #59

I understand this is unpopular on HN and I don't think this is the right approach either but what is the solution? Or do you think there's no problem at all? I think it is a potential problem where some young people don't realize that some fairly disgusting and extreme sex acts are not the norm and start dating thinking that is what you do instead of loving someone, that would cause them serious issues in developing…

My wife studied psychology recently, and yes, it's a huge problem. There really are teenagers who think that gang bangs are the norm, and that they have to participate. I thought she was joking when my wife told me some of the stories (case studies actually), but these things really happen if you get exposed to this when really young, and nobody bothers to correct your views.

And then you have the flip side of the coin, where you find a German couple who were so uneducated about sex that they'd been together for more than half a decade without having kids, went to the doctor for help... whereupon it was found that they never had sex. An extreme case, yes, but illustrative.

The norms of today might not be the best, but the norms of yesteryear were also pretty fucked-up. Age verification on sites is going to do squat in terms of changing young adult mindsets.

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