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The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

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Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#31

Post by Geeek »

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #26
Geeek wrote: post #15

I am obviously a bit early, as my oldest is only 7, but my wife and I decided to force ourselves to delay getting our kids (7 & 4) their own media device, such as an iPad and go straight to a laptop when it becomes a necessity in school. My 7 year old, with immense attention issues, is obsessed with reading and being creative, I could not imagine her being at her reading level if she had an iPad or some other form of…

My daughter has an iPad (we limit to 2 hours of screens) but she also loves reading and will read for hours a day.

Two hours a day?

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#32

Post by threeseed »

Geeek wrote: post #15

I am obviously a bit early, as my oldest is only 7, but my wife and I decided to force ourselves to delay getting our kids (7 & 4) their own media device, such as an iPad and go straight to a laptop when it becomes a necessity in school. My 7 year old, with immense attention issues, is obsessed with reading and being creative, I could not imagine her being at her reading level if she had an iPad or some other form of…

We have an entire generation of people i.e. us growing up with computers and TVs.

There is no evidence that it has had any negative effects.

The problem is exclusively with social media. And in particular the way it is having young kids being shaped by adult role models e.g. Andrew Tate, Mr Beast who don't have their wellbeing in mind. And being subjected to adult themed content in volumes we've never seen before.

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#33

Post by bubaumba »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #8
000ooo000 wrote: post #2

Curious how tech-oriented parents here are approaching TikTok et al with their kids. My kid isn't walking yet, but for when the time comes, I'm not sure how I'll limit exposure to what I'd call "pure trash", but also give them freedom and the ability to 'fit in' with (inevitably) the rest of their friends using this stuff.

No phone until early to mid teens, flip/dumb phone only until they buy their own.

sure, just don't forget, that will be the kid who chooses the shelter...

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#34

Post by lukev »

xyst wrote: post #12
000ooo000 wrote: post #2

Curious how tech-oriented parents here are approaching TikTok et al with their kids. My kid isn't walking yet, but for when the time comes, I'm not sure how I'll limit exposure to what I'd call "pure trash", but also give them freedom and the ability to 'fit in' with (inevitably) the rest of their friends using this stuff.

Keep it simple dude. All they get is a basic device with text/RCS and call capabilities. I would be okay with giving a kid just a smart watch. No social media or smart phones until 16 y/o. Also making sure kids have friends in their community is a plus. Involve them in school programs, help guide them as they find their interest. For love of god, don’t give your kid an unlocked iPad with YT/TT/FB/Twitch/kick.

It's very easy to say this if you're not a parent.

Social media does some harm. Being socially excluded does far _more_ harm. Which starts to happen in middle school.

So as a parent, you have three choices:

1. Deal with the emotional consequences of your kid being systematically excluded and having few/no friends.

2. Construct an alternative school/community with like-minded parents and kids.

3. Just give them the damn device, with screen time restrictions and the understanding that you'll be monitoring their activity. Follow through and be involved in their social life, with open and honest conversations about what happens online.

It turns out most good parents these days opt for #3.

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#35

Post by nicksergeant »

nytesky wrote: post #27
nicksergeant wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup. This is what I see missing from all the non-parents or parents of kids under 10 on HN. Once middle school hits their whole friend/support system is probably on SnapChat and if you're not on there, you're instantly excluded from everything.

Imagine growing up without a phone in the 90s. That’s what these Luddite patents are advocating. It’s hard. We actually have banned social media until 16, but fortunately iMessage was the defacto coordination and we accepted that. No TikTok until adults, for a host of reasons.

Same here. Hard no on YouTube and TikTok. Sadly everything happens on SnapChat in their friend groups and SnapChat has a terrible TikTok style feed that I wish to god I could disable somehow. It adds nothing to the experience for actually socializing with one's friends group and is simply designed for mindless scrolling and consumption. I hate it.

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#37

Post by juunpp »

threeseed wrote: post #29
highwayman47 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed, TikTok is just the best at it; plus it is the only viable non-US threat to US tech giants, therefore it’s the villain.

TikTok isn't remotely a threat to any of the US tech giants. And the idea that Meta has never been considered a villain is just laughable.

The US is in an economic war with China. TikTok is just part of their current beef. Not to say that TikTok isn't toxic; of course it is. But Instagram and Facebook are, too.

"Considered a villain" -- this means nothing unless action is taken. Meta has just gotten, in two whole decades, a few mock interviews in Congress and not more than that, left untouched primarily due to Section 230 and the convenience that a mass social network of 2B+ users worldwide happens to be US-based (not fiscally, of course.) And that is after the various leaks showing how it psychologically manipulates teens, lends itself to electioneering and genocide, etc. TikTok, on the other hand, has made it all the way to Congressional ban level in just a few years.

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#38

Post by threeseed »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #24
winterbloom wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you do that, your kid won't fit in and will be a social outcast

But at least they’ll be functional with a potentially positive trajectory vs their peers.

Humans especially children need to be part of healthy social groups.

Being excluded is not setting them up on a positive trajectory.

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#39

Post by cortesoft »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #24
winterbloom wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you do that, your kid won't fit in and will be a social outcast

But at least they’ll be functional with a potentially positive trajectory vs their peers.

Social skills are probably the most important and valuable skills to success in life

Re: The TikTok documents: Stripping teens and boosting 'attractive' people

#40

Post by [deleted] »

threeseed wrote: post #38
toomuchtodo wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But at least they’ll be functional with a potentially positive trajectory vs their peers.

Humans especially children need to be part of healthy social groups. Being excluded is not setting them up on a positive trajectory.

[deleted]
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