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Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

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Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#221
post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the only way to do this is to require ID checks, effectively regulating and destroying the anonymous nature of the internet (and probably unconstitutional under the First Amendment, to boot.) It's the same problem with requiring age verification for porn. It's not that anyone wants kids to have easy access to this stuff, but that any of these laws will either be (a) unenforceable and useless, or (b) draconian and…

> effectively regulating and destroying the anonymous nature of the internet. Not at all. Just the social media sites, which are objectively bad for kids. As an adult, you do what you want on the internet.

And what makes a site a social media site? Anywhere you can post interactive content?

You do realize that laws like this would apply to sites like HN, Reddit, the comment section of every blog, and every phpBB forum you ever used? It's not just Instagram and Tiktok.

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#222
This is a very complex problem. Its not just social media, but porn and other content that is not intended for young eyes.

One issue I have is with the age verification system. This will either be totally ineffective or overly effective and invasive. I feel legislation is drifting towards the latter with the requirement of ID.

One idea I had is a managed dns blacklist of inappropriate content. The government can have a requirement that a website register their site in this list to operate, otherwise they are subject to litigation for their content. At the same time have isps and network gear support this list in a 1 click type fashion. I have multiple dns blacklists I use at home. I know this may be a little more technical for the parents and guardians, but that is the world we are living in.

Limitations being:

Section 230 - user posts explicit content and the site isn't in the blacklist.

Network scope - This blacklist will have to be added to all networks accessed by children. What about public wifi? coffee shops?

IDK, I love being able to be anonymous online, but I do see the negative effects of social media, porn, and explicit content on our youth. I don't really trust the government to solve this effectively.

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone has a credit card. Some people cannot obtain a credit card. People under the age of 18 can also have a credit card. I do not trust random sites with my credit card.

So these are objections in practice, not principle. Important but consider: - Most states give free IDs - Your safety concern is addressed by other commenters here (see the verifying age anonymously)

How about this: I don't want every little thing I do on the internet tracked and tied to my real identity?

Is the CCP conducting a psyops on HN right now or something? Since when were we all for every tiny interaction you have on the internet requiring you to look in the scanner and say "My name is X and I love my government and McDonalds"?

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#224
post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gambling is outright banned for a majority of regions in the US, not just kids. I don't think they are equally bad, just different bad. Gambling is addictive, and it destroys people. Social media is addictive and socially toxic, on the whole it erodes the very fabric of a society.

Not anymore. A 2018 Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates to legalized sports gambling, much of it online. The only states with existing bans are Hawaii and Utah, which combined have only 5 million residents. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy_v._National_Collegiat...

Oof.

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone has a credit card. Some people cannot obtain a credit card. People under the age of 18 can also have a credit card. I do not trust random sites with my credit card.

So these are objections in practice, not principle. Important but consider: - Most states give free IDs - Your safety concern is addressed by other commenters here (see the verifying age anonymously)

Gut check was that the "Most states give free IDs" statement wouldn't hold up. So I checked real quick.

"At least eight states issue free or discounted IDs to low-income or homeless residents and at least 10 states waive ID fees for seniors."

That's far from most states, and even then it comes with stipulations.

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#226

As the parent of an 11 year old, I wholeheartedly agree. The science is pretty clear that social media has had a very detrimental effect on teens' mental health. We should treat it like we do other substances that are harmful for teens; once they're older they are better able to make wiser decisions as to if, when and how they want to consume social media. It may be impossible to enforce outside school, but so is the…

Seems like it does even more harm to adults, so much of the "content" is just a cess-pool of conspiracies and vitriol

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gambling is outright banned for a majority of regions in the US, not just kids. I don't think they are equally bad, just different bad. Gambling is addictive, and it destroys people. Social media is addictive and socially toxic, on the whole it erodes the very fabric of a society.

>Social media is addictive and socially toxic, on the whole it erodes the very fabric of a society. It's interesting how every generation seems to decry new forms of media as eroding the fabric of society. They said it about video games, television, music, movies, etc. I'm sure we're right this time, though.

Yeah, none of those are comparable. TV never lead to children bullying each other anonymously which then leads to kids committing suicide.

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you asserting that parents should not have the rights to determine this for their own children?

Yes, parents should not have unlimited rights to determine what is good/bad for their children. Social media is a powerful, addictive and dangerous. Pretty much anywhere on this earth, parents will end up in jail or lose custody of their kids, if they give them harmful substances like drugs. Social media should be regulated like how drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes are regulated.

Because drug regulations are so effective with no collateral damage at all. /s

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone has a credit card. Some people cannot obtain a credit card. People under the age of 18 can also have a credit card. I do not trust random sites with my credit card.

So these are objections in practice, not principle. Important but consider: - Most states give free IDs - Your safety concern is addressed by other commenters here (see the verifying age anonymously)

You changed the argument from credit card to government Id (an even worse idea imo).

You seem to want the law to be that I need to show ID to enter most internet establishments. I will never, ever, ever hold that opinion.

Re: Florida House of Representatives approves bill to ban social media for kids < 16

#230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you asserting that parents should not have the rights to determine this for their own children?

Parents don’t have the right to get their kids a tattoo, vote or buy alcohol before a regulated age. Is this different?

Missouri law allows minors to consume alcohol if purchased by a parent or legal guardian and consumed on their private property.

edit: Apparently Missouri is not the only state. I had trouble finding a definitive list though. There are also other exceptions such as wine during religious service.

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