Just so we’re all clear about what this particular social media ban is about. It’s about adults, and connecting a real name and face to online activity at the state-issued identification layer. I’m generally supportive of things like banning smartphones from schools, which is certainly an option the UK could’ve pursued, but this is coming at a time when social media is getting the blame for behavior of adults. Much easier to limit politically annoying voices of citizens when they have to authenticate through the state before logging in to speak.
UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
91–100 of 106 posts
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
> As a parent, I completely agree. What's stopping you from doing this so far? Handing a child a smartphone is a decision parents can make, withholding access to a smartphone is also a decision parents can make.
Enormous, unrelenting social pressure? A crying child telling you that they're completely cut off from their peers and social group? Day after day of arguments and pleading? Schools and scout groups and extra-curriculars that tacitly require your child to have a Facebook or WhatsApp account? And much much more!
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#93> “Children will be given back their childhoods,” Taking options away from children will not make their lives better just by itself And this social media ban might only move the conversation to less transparent channels WhatsApp and Telegram know more about children than their parents And child can still spend all doing unhealthy stuff. YouTube kids is addictive enough, at home watching Netflix, playing video games,…
> So the only real solution is force companies to provide better parental controls Parental controls require parents. Many "parents" don't seem to be interested. So in my opinion the only real solution is to get parents to parent. As an aside: > Taking options away from children will not make their lives better just by itself As someone who grew up with fewer options, I disagree. It was precisely because I had so few…
Probably making fund to provide an alternative social media with vetted content for children, without addictive features like feed scrolling, and requiring in person friendships or school partnership, would probably go further to help than bans
> As someone who grew up with fewer options, I disagree. It was precisely because I had so few options that I explored (both physically and mentally).
Can't see how having facebook banned but roblox, telegram groups, reddit, yt kids available will improve their mental health
But banning everything is also probably just as dumb
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#94Couldn't get it through the first or second times, just dress it up in "think of the children" rhetoric and run it from the Ofcom quango.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#95If I was someone under the age of 16 in the UK I would absolutely attempt to circumvent this ban myself; and I'm happy to contribute to software that facilitates kids in the UK circumventing it.
Good. This will force kids to be creative, hack around, and question authority.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#96This should be a parental decision, not a governmental one. UK parents are just offloading raising their kids.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
Enormous, unrelenting social pressure? A crying child telling you that they're completely cut off from their peers and social group? Day after day of arguments and pleading? Schools and scout groups and extra-curriculars that tacitly require your child to have a Facebook or WhatsApp account? And much much more!
Oh no! You actually have to make decisions and parent instead of relying on the rest of society to conform around your desires!
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#98> “Children will be given back their childhoods,” As a parent, I completely agree. We need to protect children from the dangers of the completely uncontrolled "jungle" of social media. But above all, we need to give children back the right to experience a true, real childhood, made up of true friends, fresh air, friendships, and real relationships!
And that law ensures this? Really? Reminds me of the prohibition era.
Re: UK Brings in Full Social Media Ban for Under-16s
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's also a huge win for children's future and cognition. Both of these things can be true. We need to figure out how to navigate this new reality and no action was getting really dangerous.
Parents have the choice of handing smartphones to their children. If cognition and future is that important, surely a parent wouldn't wait for government intervention