How do yall feel about the Social Media Ban for Australia?

[analog_alison]

I’m in support. Many of these platforms have literal blood on their hands. 

I’m a parent of Gen A kids too young for social media, but I despise the downloading of all responsibility onto the parents. We’re up against billion dollar corporations here, with lots of tricks up their sleeves. It’s a losing battle, and I support legislation that prevents/reduces kids’ exposure.

The verification piece is interesting to me and I’m following this sentiment closely as part of my work. Privacy is important, for sure. However, I look at it as a trade-off of risks. Right now, there is little-to-no accountability for bad (and straight-up illegal, and evil) behaviour by users on most platforms. If operating in a space where users are verified helps create a more accountable (and therefore safe) space, I’d try verification. It would also help reduce bot activity which is undermining our democracy.

Edited to add that I’m in Canada, so there is no legislation here yet, but there are rumblings.

[RamonsRazor]

It’s piss weak.

And anyone who supports it doesn’t know what they are talking about, doesn’t understand the consequences or doesn’t care.

The problem isn’t platforms or parents, it’s algorithms:
* they promote the most sensational content
* they drive engagement at all costs
* they foster addiction
* they flood your feed

If any politician had a spine, if any tech company gave an actual shit, they’d roll back/ban social media algorithms and algorithmically pushed content.

Turns out we are simply incompatible with this sort of stuff. Most people can’t moderate themselves. It’s junk food for you brain. Worse even. Ive seen the brightest people have the worst takes on things in recent years, exeplifying utter brain rot due to their social media use.

Teens have no chance.

Banning teens only messes up their ability to connect with communities, to reach beyond their locale and bond with likeminded peers during these formative years.

It cuts them out of the online discourse. Removes their voices. Silences them.

Nanny state BS.

This will continue to be a problem until algorithms are dealt with.

Until then, kids will find a way around it, or just give up on social entirely.

That will impact big techs bottom dollar, so expect them to “engineer a solution” or re-lobby governments to roll this back, likely once the “AI” bubble pops – can’t have two of their “growth markets” turn to dust, now can we?

[Fun-Minimum-3007]

Posting from the UK and it seems insane the amount of internet-restricting legislation that has passed all over the anglosphere this year. our online safety act, porn blocking in the states and now the aussies too? Are our governments taking notes from each other or straight up coordinating this shit? Does anybody actually want more nanny state shit?

[Equivalent_Dimension]

Let me guess: you’re under 16. Honestly, I wish they’d ban it all together. As someone old enough to have been an adult before the internet was invented, I can confidently say that watching the change in society since then has been like watching a Harvard grad deteriorate into a crack whore. If it weren’t for the algorithms peddling conflict that’s meant to keep us addicted, social media would be as fun to spend time on as email. The fact that it’s not tells you everything you need to know about what it’s done to your mind.

[Thin_Rip8995]

banning kids under 16 sounds good on paper but in practice it just pushes them onto sketchier corners of the internet with zero oversight. id verification is a slippery slope once you normalize handing over documents to every app.

the real answer isn’t government bans it’s digital literacy and parents actually parenting. teach kids how to navigate online spaces safely instead of pretending prohibition will work. otherwise you just trade one problem for another.

[Subject-Turnover-388]

It’s so cool that private corporations with a long history of data breaches and privacy violations are now going to have grounds to demand my personal information such as real life ID and facial biometrics! I’m just dying to hand that over and get absolutely doxxed! Yippee!

I’m 30 and I don’t intend to comply. I’m so fucking tired of the constant onslaught of surveillance. Some service locks me out and starts making demands? Bye. I’m fucking done.