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TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

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91–100 of 228 posts

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#91

I 100% agree with the premise that TikTok is addictive and even dangerous to consume in large amounts (that's why I don't consume it at all). But I feel the exact same about cheeseburgers. Should I be able to sue McDonalds if I let my kid eat 100 of them in one sitting? Again, I get the danger here, and I don't like TikTok as a whole. I just don't really know where the line is between something that the parent is all…

>Should I be able to sue McDonald's if I let my kid eat 100 of them in one sitting? If RJ Reynolds was handing out free cigarettes to children, even though the parent either consented to this or simply didn't know about it, would you consider RJ Reynolds' responsible for the adverse effects of children smoking?

If it was legal to hand out cigarettes to children and the parents consented I don't see how the company could be held liable. The state should not be doing the job of parents, and the judicial branch should not being doing the job of the legislative branch.

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Should I be able to sue McDonalds if I let my kid eat 100 of them in one sitting? If McDonald’s is handing them out for free at the playground, yes.

I hate that this needs to be said, but giving kids free food is not illegal.

If you believe that, go set up a "Free Candy!" stand at a local playground and see how long before the police show up.

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#93

I 100% agree with the premise that TikTok is addictive and even dangerous to consume in large amounts (that's why I don't consume it at all). But I feel the exact same about cheeseburgers. Should I be able to sue McDonalds if I let my kid eat 100 of them in one sitting? Again, I get the danger here, and I don't like TikTok as a whole. I just don't really know where the line is between something that the parent is all…

> Should I be able to sue McDonalds if I let my kid eat 100 of them in one sitting?

Should you be able to sue a liquor store if they sell your kid a fifth of vodka?

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#94

Not sure why poeple don't just put the phone down? We really are the most sheltered gentle generation. Oh no, this app is taking up my time, we need to BAN IT.

That's not how addiction works. If you could "just stop" then it isn't really an addiction.

Huh, that's exactly the solution to addiction? Step 1 is always changing your behaviour patterns to break out of habits and avoid things that draw you into it.

Make your bedroom a phone-free zone, charge it in the living room overnight, use the built in parenting and screentime controls that every modern phone OS has, don't let your kids stare at the screen all day. Etc.

This isn't rocket science. Self control is one of the most important things you need to learn. It sucks and it's hard but it's basic life stuff.

The only difference with social media addiction vs drugs/gambling is that it's not socially ostracized like other addictions so people ignore it.

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#95
post #80

Not sure why poeple don't just put the phone down? We really are the most sheltered gentle generation. Oh no, this app is taking up my time, we need to BAN IT.

Not drinking or gambling works so well for alcoholics and gamblers. Who needs rehab anyway?

And yet we're talking about a case against social media companies and not a case against casinos or distillers.

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#96

Not sure why poeple don't just put the phone down? We really are the most sheltered gentle generation. Oh no, this app is taking up my time, we need to BAN IT.

That's not how addiction works. If you could "just stop" then it isn't really an addiction.

This is the lie that keeps people addicted. Plenty of people quit their very real addictions every day. If you imagine you're helplessly addicted, you will remain addicted.

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Should I be able to sue McDonalds if I let my kid eat 100 of them in one sitting? If McDonald’s is handing them out for free at the playground, yes.

I hate that this needs to be said, but giving kids free food is not illegal.

This requires many asterisks, as once you hit any appreciable size of "giving out food" you tend to hit tons of local ordinance about food safety, permits, and just general distrust of directly interacting with other people's kids at a playground (depending on the age we are talking about, but since we said playground, I'm assuming pretty young).

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My personal vice is junk food. I wish they banned junk food. I'm not sure how the law would work but it would be objectively better for me as a human if they did. (This is completely disregarding how practical such a ban would be)

A power law formula tax based on sugar/sat fat/total carbs per mass of food/drink should do the trick. Or give everyone cheap daily GLP-1 pills.

Rest in piece literally every food in existence that isn't just a slab of meat.

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#99

I 100% agree with the premise that TikTok is addictive and even dangerous to consume in large amounts (that's why I don't consume it at all). But I feel the exact same about cheeseburgers. Should I be able to sue McDonalds if I let my kid eat 100 of them in one sitting? Again, I get the danger here, and I don't like TikTok as a whole. I just don't really know where the line is between something that the parent is all…

> But I feel the exact same about cheeseburgers. The problem with analogies to things like cheeseburgers, gambling, drugs, cigarettes, etc., is: 1. Availability -- you have to go somewhere to acquire/participate in these things* 2. Cost -- you have to have money to spend. That is, it's not something you can consume/participate in for free -- you have to have money to spend. * Gambling is theoretically freely availabl…

So what you're saying is that we should ban porn then?

Re: TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin

#100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheeseburgers are not everywhere. I'm sitting at my desk, social media is here but cheeseburgers are not. Social media is always with me other than in the shower. Cheeseburgers are not.

I can get a cheeseburger delivered, or there's a dozen places within a 15 minute walk to get one. I can hardly leave the house without seeing an ad for one or some other fast food item on the side of a bus. I can't avoid being hungry, but I can leave my phone at home. Sure it's a matter of degrees but I don't see a bright line between McDonald's and tiktok. Both want me hooked on their product. Both have harmful aspe…

If people never felt full from food, food was always instantly available in your pocket, and food costed no money to obtain, I believe McDonalds and TikTok would be very equivalent. Likely McDonalds would even be far worse since people would probably be dying to it daily.

That's the bright line. The lack of any barrier to entry.

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