this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2024
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Summary

A YouGov poll revealed that 77% of Germans support banning social media for those under 16, similar to a new Australian law.

The survey found that 82% believe social media harms young people, citing harmful content and addiction.

In Australia, the law fines platforms up to AUD 49.5 million (€30.5M) for allowing under-16s to create accounts, with enforcement trials set before implementation next year. Critics

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[–] Roflmasterbigpimp 19 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (18 children)

Urgh. This is a tough one. Social media has been a part of asymmetric warfare for at least the past ten years, and I don’t want my kids to be bombarded with propaganda from Russian and Chinese-funded far-right groups like the AfD.

At the same time, I understand how important it is for kids to explore the internet on their own.

If I had the choice, I would ban TikTok and Instagram.

But if that’s not possible – then honestly, ban everything. I will then work something out with my kids myself.

[–] raspberriesareyummy 7 points 2 months ago (15 children)

At the same time, I understand how important it is for kids to explore the internet on their own.

No more though. It's more important that they spend time at the fresh air & play. The internet has become pretty useless outside of wikipedia & social media, and social media has become pretty toxic outside of a few spots (like we can hopefully keep lemmy).

  • everything is ridden with ads
  • news websites locked behind paywalls
  • news websites reporting agenda-driven propaganda
  • major email providers auto-classify emails from smaller providers as spam (despite correct SPF entries)
  • every good service that is not decentralized, eventually gets hit by enshittification due reap profits

I would absolutely support a 100% social media ban for all centralized networks (corporation controlled). Because they are used not only to damage the brains of children, but those of adults as well (see Eastern German elections). Only federated chat systems / social media should be allowed. But that's where our fascist overlords have a conflict of interest - they desperately want to see everything we communicate - and chat control (literally, fuck you EU) is not possible in federated networks.

[–] Roflmasterbigpimp 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (12 children)

Oh, I have to disagree strongly. Precisely because the internet has gotten worse, it’s even more important for children to learn how to navigate it effectively.

Take my former colleague as an example: a 45-year-old downloading a “better zip tool” from a Russian website full of awful spelling and dubious claims.

Kids need to learn about ad blockers, VPNs, and how to identify fake news. Not teaching them these skills leaves them far more vulnerable to online threats than if they were taught how to handle these issues from an early age. And as many people tell you, the best way to truly learn about something is by doing it yourself.

The internet is only going to become more relevant in the future.

[–] douglasg14b 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Side note.

Social media is now a theater of war, with adults and children alike being the weapons created by way of social media propaganda.

Children, who are the most likely to be affected and manipulated, who are also primary targets due to said vulnerabilities should be excluded from these platforms for this reason alone.

This is a problem that's growing at a scale to affect entire countries. Countries with populations vulnerable to social media targeting propaganda, astroturfing, and manipulation are vulnerable on the world stage.

Making this a growing national security concern for any country.

[–] Roflmasterbigpimp 1 points 2 months ago

True! That’s why I hate TikTok and Instagram so much. From my experience, these are the two worst offenders.

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