Australia bans social media for under-16s.

What’s it radicalising people and poisoning their minds with though, I doubt there’s universal agreement on the answer.

It’s a good idea on the face of it but I’ve a feeling this is just going to shove them into a different place, WhatsApp, Telegram etc don’t fall under this initial legislation. Then you’ve the whole virtual and digital world, it’s impossible to police, places like Roblox and Gorilla Tag.

How does a VPN get around requiring age verification for a social media account?

Edit - ah I get you, just pretend you're not Australia haha.

Yeah it needs to somehow be a global ban on under 16s. Not really possible.

His answer to should you buy a bmw or a bitcoin the other day was spot on, most men would proably agree with him. You'll need to come up with a better reason to block boys from audio and video.

I was implying a broken clock can be right once a day. This ban will have no effect on someone who wants to listen to him being able to do so.

If we were to follow on from that logic who else do we ban chaps from seeing and hearing until they’re 16? Fr Ted, POTUS etc.

How about girls and their role models, Cardi B springs to mind.

I think the problem is adults in kids spaces, back to Roblox, gorilla tag etc. Great fun but there’s nefarious actors amongst them.

Shorts are also rotting their brains, there’s a generation out there with a 4 second attention span in their 20’s now.

I nearly fell over when I noticed a new trend a few weeks ago, rawdogging in the bedroom and it’s the complete opposite of what springs to mind, this current generation is in big trouble.

That's not gonna work under 16 is abit of a stretch maybe under 12 but can't see this being successful

What will be considered social media?

Are online gaming platforms considered social media.

Is Youtube comments section social media.

It's a great idea. I am 100% sure teens will try to find some way around it, that's not the point, though.

It's similar to a country retaining the death penalty but choosing not to use the death penalty sentence and commuting the death penalty sentence to life in prison instead.

What Australian society is signaling is that the use of social media by under-16s is a social ill; teens trying to get around it is irrelevant, what it signals is far more important.

Just look at their alcohol laws ffs.

We often criticise governments for doing nothing about things. Maybe it's worth giving it a try. It might wake the SM crowd and they might put more of an effort to keep a better eye on whats on their platforms (unlikely I know)

But that's where laws banning children from social media play a role in forcing companies to do something about it. I understand people saying the kids will work around a ban by using VPNs etc, but if companies are held accountable for having underage people on their platforms it'll incentivize them to try harder to prevent them gaining access.

Jesus seems I hit a nerve. I was suggesting someway that would stop people posting anonymously on the likes of Twitter etc.
People have no issue verifying their ID to the likes of betting companies, dating sites etc.
I wouldnt trust those sites any more than a social media site tbh

How about you parent your own children instead of expecting everyone else to give their personal data to more online companies.