I'm not a fan of social media; there's reasons and some have tried to sway me but I'm resolute in my dislike for it. Of course, there's so many people that disagree with me and that's ok, if they want to waste their lives there that's their prerogative.
Anyway, one of the big issues here for parents is the damage social media is doing to their children and that damage eventually spirals outwards to effect others and society in general. It's with that in mind the Australian Communications Minister introduced a law to Parliament that (if passed) will ban children below the age of 16 from accessing social media - a world-first law - with fines to operators of Facebook, X, Tik Tok, Snapchat, Reddit (and others) of up to $50 million for failure to prevent young children holding their accounts. It's designed to pull back on the trend of social media which has become the "defining feature" of a childhood in Australia. The social medias would have a year (after this becoming law) to comply and determine how they will implement the age restriction.
Predictably, the social medias are outraged, that cock Elon Musk is livid, and have begun denouncing the planned law; I guess they feel that under-developed minds absorbing their unfiltered content couldn't possibly be a bad thing. #fuckenidiots
However, is this another step towards total control of the population, is it removing another freedom in a world where Governments seek to exert more and more influence over people's lives? But then...don't the social media companies exert a control of sorts, the theft of people's information, creating individual profiles on users...Hmm, I wonder.
So, here's the thing folks, what do you think?
Should the undeveloped mind of a child be influenced and brainwashed by social media? Should they have access to an endless stream of unfiltered content parents can't control...or could they be doing something more productive and valuable in those formative years?
What do you think? Feel free to reach out in the comments and let me know if you want to get involved in the discussion.
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I can not speak to how difficult it must be to be a parent in this current clown show world we live in. I do not have children. That was my choice. I do know I was a nightmare child to raise. I regret that.
But I see very little "parenting" being done these days. It seems like a child is now a hot potato. Pop em out of the oven and serve em up to someone else to consume.
I mean should the government raise them. I will never be for more laws and oppression of proven out of control tyrannical governmental power trippers.
50 million? Really? And it is the web site owners fault not the hands off sleep walking thru life parent? My parents were horrible. We basically raised ourselves with the bad influences of some pretty wild babysitters.
The power trippers here can fine me for a hands free cell phone violation for over $11k? With a dual fine for the company who's name is on the door. Making you basically unemployable like an alcohol violation or a failed drug screen would. True Story here in this clown country.
But the same violation for a non commercial driver in a vehicle is only a few hundred dollars.
How about a dual fine for the parents and web wanker? We all know the tyrants could always use more money to misappropriate and spend recklessly.
I would think freedom and non censorship should win out every time.
Maybe we should hold the ones who created that child responsible for the first 16-18 years of that childs life.
100% responsible. JMO. Hey, You asked...😳
Yep, pretty much what I'd expected you to say should you have chosen to respond...which you obviously did. Parents (I mean generally not all) are piss weak these days and probably too busy wasting time on social media themselves to raise their kids right...and not just with social media but many other things.
I agree with you entirely. When has more legislation ever improved anything? I have no idea what the purpose of government is, but it certainly isn't raising children.
Hi Galen, I totally agree with you regarding social media. And I would like to stress the huge scam that is confusing data with information.
In other words, we have access to an avalanche of data and at the same time there is a great inability to sort and process this information, to separate the relevant from the irrelevant, to detect what is missing and, what is worse, in general there is no interest in checking the sources and the veracity of what we are told. This, to me in particular, refers to the absence of any critical thinking in the society in which I live, and that cannot be fixed by censoring access to data, nor do States (I speak in general) have any interest in governing a population that practices critical thinking.
In my opinion, this measure that you inform us about is one more step in censorship and population control. And one more step in the direction of taking away from parents the education of their children.
It's a complex issue with many parts from censorship and control by authorities to lack of parental control, the lowering of tolerance to certain behaviours and things on social media (which means the boundaries are pushed further and further, and a lot more in between. If I was a parent I'd not need the government to tell me how to do it...but with (many) parents these days having grown up with social media it could be difficult for them to know how and what they need to do. A complex issue and one that will not soon be resolved.
Thanks for your intelligent response and opinion.
The subject is very complex, as you say.
I hope this weekend is going well for you. Best regards, Galen
Going well mate, a bit of everything, work, relaxation, a sleep in, a bit of a hike and some shopping...not really pleased about the shopping but it has to be done. Hopefully you're in for a good one.
The weekend here has also started well, and I hope it continues that way. See you tomorrow.
While I agree how unfiltered content can be damaging to children's minds and social media platforms should be held liable for continuously feeding children with unfiltered content, does not mean that all the blame goes to the social media platforms. Internet in general can be dangerous with children and as long as parents leave their children unattended while surfing the internet, they could be exposed to far more dangerous stuff in the internet. What I'm saying is that, parents should act as parents to their children, set parental controls on their devices to restrict their internet usage and the sites they can see then when they get exposed on harmful things in the internet, parents should be there to properly guide and explain things to their children.
In terms of banning social media platforms for children, I do not have a problem with it but I do not know how the platforms can implement it. Maybe by adding KYC for each users to make sure they are above the age restriction but that can lead to security and privacy issues.
I agree, it's the parent's responsibility to say, no you little fucker, you're not having social media.
I think there is no need for that ban because that is the reason why parental control exist, and now it is not just children but married people too who are using social media for their self pleasure by hooking up with another person. But it's all about control though I mean of you dont to get involve in something you really cant false but most get involved
Parents don't often exert the control which raises issues like this and it's quite pathetic really, so I agree with you. When i was a kid my parents told me I couldn't do this or that (no social media back then of course) and I accepted it...might have complained, and then I got a clip around the ear and that was that. These days there's many reasons parents are losing control and failing to bring their kids up properly and one of them is they are fucken lazy.
Lolzzz absolutely agree more with you on this.
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The truth is that both sides exert control in their own way and both can and do cause harm, but social networks are already beyond parental control, they are everywhere and they get into the minds of children and children should not have networks, definitely not. They should play and grow up like the children of old, encouraging creativity and good mental health and not be made to look like dummies.... when I think about it it makes me angry!
This is 1984 in action, control control control the nanny state are considering a similar law in the UK. The problem is lazy irresponsible parents, happy to fuck and make kids but not prepared to devote the time needed ..."shove an ipad in his hands he will be ok" THAT is not responsible parenting, I brought my two kids up to maturity pre internet days and they both hold very high positions in their chosen careers. Thankfully my example has been followed and have tech time useage controlled. BUT the fucking schools their kids go to set homework requiring online research.
The world is fucked