Ban on Social Media for Under 16’s

Forums New posts
I see manufacturers of phones and similar gadgets are under pressure to make the date of birth (verified) as a thing on their devices.

Platforms are under big pressure to have age verification for access.

If a kid can break these codes surely it's not beyond the wit of these billion dollar tech companies to close the loopholes.

Where there's a will there's a way. Massive fines could be just the incentive these companies need.
 
It's a total minefield. My 2 kids haven't got phones yet, but even with their tablets, the level of complexity in implementing parental controls on some of the apps etc is mind boggling. And I like to think I'm fairly IT-savvy. Layers of passwords, apps to control the apps, approval requests etc, and it's different every time depending on what game they're playing or app they're using.

The whole thing needs simplified. There should be some kind of over-arching one stop shop which monitors and controls everything, no idea how achievable that is.
 
It's a good start. This will help parents.

Sure, the kids that are left unsupervised to cheat it will be able to, but that's always been the case with 18 rated movies, video games, home internet use etc...

From a personal perspective, I have an 11 year old daughter and I'm one of the few parents that's hasn't let their kid have a phone through primary school. She is getting one this Christmas mind you as we said to her she could have one before high school.

I'm glad we stuck to our guns on this. The state of some of her pals when they can't get their devices is shocking, and evidence enough for me that they are dangerously addictive. Also some of the shite she repeats from YouTubers she is allowed to watch on her tablet is bad enough without more nefarious adult influencers getting into her screen time.

If this law can keep her off mind rot like Instagram, X and TikTok beyond her getting a device in a few months (even for a little while) that will be a bonus.
 
Last edited:
Cavalier said:
So just let kids crack on with porn and grooming sites in order to fit your narrative?
Click to expand...
A Government that knows more about you,than you do about them...Is Tyranny!

Parents need to take responsibility.
The parents should be held accountable.

Do you trust a Government that snoops on everything....yet redacts names in child trafficking?


Interesting case just finished in court inregard to Queer Stalin.

Why do all these rent boys have it in for him? 🤔
 
Thomo0762 said:
Did they allow white grooming gangs as well as Asian ones?
Click to expand...
Theres no record of that.

But paedophilles come in all colours.

The Government knew this....and actively allowed it.

That should be shocking to people!

Too many NPCs in the world.
 
I think this is an example of an area where most people agree something needs to be done, but it is really difficult to pin down what that should be and, furthermore, what would be workable.

TBH I don't know the answer. I want kids to be protected from porn, violent content, gambling and any mechanism whereby they can be groomed by strangers. I also know that social media providers structure their product to pull people in and get them addicted. And the algorithms a designed to push certain posts and views. Which again can be very destructive for kids.

So whst are the options? I guess do nothing or leave it to the parents. Except that's not working.Some restriction on apps? Well we've got the social media companies shrieking about that, so maybe that's evidence that it might be effective?

I see complaints about the civil liberties of adults in that they may have to enter personal details to access apps. I'm mixed about this. We already splurge enormous amounts of personal information about ourselves online. So what's different? But I'm open to hearing the arguments.

I also note some of the supportive comments from people on the Bounce.

So what should (if anything) government do?
 
Last edited:
Social media platforms have been running out of control for too long. They have been grossly irresponsible at best.

If they can't be trusted to behave, and they can't, they need reined in. It's their fault we find ourselves in the position we're in. Blame them not the countries around the world who, coming late to the game, say fuck this!
 
Ofcom already have regulatory powers that could force a reckoning with the guys that peddle dangerous shit to kids and Ryan69 alike. Unfortunately those powers aren't used because anyone who gets in a position of power at Ofcom (or Ofwat or Ofgen or etc) immediately gets bought by the industry and nothing changes.

In the meantime this is going to close down lines of support for vulnerable kids across the country.
 
FTJT said:
Ofcom already have regulatory powers that could force a reckoning with the guys that peddle dangerous shit to kids and Ryan69 alike. Unfortunately those powers aren't used because anyone who gets in a position of power at Ofcom (or Ofwat or Ofgen or etc) immediately gets bought by the industry and nothing changes.

In the meantime this is going to close down lines of support for vulnerable kids across the country.
Click to expand...
Do you want to say more on how this would 'close off lines of support for vulnerable kids'? What do you mean?
 
AND ANOTHER THING 😆 Prepare for a rant 🤣

We let any shit over our borders.

In the USA they had a decent system, pre trumpet, where anything that was ingested in any way had to be allowed by the Federal Food Agency. That's eaten, drunk, ingested, inhaled, you catch my drift.

Here it's over the border and barely checked. The first we hear of it there's folk being ill or injured or worse.

TV investigations into dodgy shops getting raided for selling dodgy gear then reopening hours later fully restocked.

Every Christmas there's warnings of kids fancy dress catching fire and dodgy electric bikes and batteries exploding in phones and ... anything that takes a battery.

And that's not even the half of it!

We're the worlds dumping ground for dodgy gear!

Dodgy cosmetic medical procedures anyone?

Did anyone mention money laundering?

Sit doon and let me tell you a story 😂
 
Jack said:
AND ANOTHER THING 😆 Prepare for a rant 🤣

We let any shit over our borders.

In the USA they had a decent system, pre trumpet, where anything that was ingested in any way had to be allowed by the Federal Food Agency. That's eaten, drunk, ingested, inhaled, you catch my drift.

Here it's over the border and barely checked. The first we hear of it there's folk being ill or injured or worse.

TV investigations into dodgy shops getting raided for selling dodgy gear then reopening hours later fully restocked.

Every Christmas there's warnings of kids fancy dress catching fire and dodgy electric bikes and batteries exploding in phones and ... anything that takes a battery.

And that's not even the half of it!

We're the worlds dumping ground for dodgy gear!

Dodgy cosmetic medical procedures anyone?

Did anyone mention money laundering?

Sit doon and let me tell you a story 😂
Click to expand...
And we pay over the odds for most things as well.

Consumer protection 🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
Archie said:
Do you want to say more on how this would 'close off lines of support for vulnerable kids'? What do you mean?
Click to expand...
My particular visceral concern is for closeted LGBT kids who frequently have no physical opportunity for safe conversations about their identity - there are more options, perhaps, than when I or anyone else here was a kid, but it's still a huge problem and it's an expanding one in the current climate (especially for trans kids, on who open season has fully been declared, and whose confidence teachers are now forbidden from keeping...)

Absent personal experience, I'm also aware that internet communities have long been a refuge for abuse victims and people raised in closed religions. In all cases, the horse has already bolted on protecting kids from scrutiny and surveillance - they have all the downsides of socialisation in the information age but none of the benefits.

Deciding people can't have these things until they're old enough to vote is absurd and dangerous. Dangerous in terms of parental violence, dangerous in terms of suicide risk. Meaningful content moderation would throw out very different outcomes - including around the ongoing radicalisation of adults
 
FTJT said:
My particular visceral concern is for closeted LGBT kids who frequently have no physical opportunity for safe conversations about their identity - there are more options, perhaps, than when I or anyone else here was a kid, but it's still a huge problem and it's an expanding one in the current climate (especially for trans kids, on who open season has fully been declared, and whose confidence teachers are now forbidden from keeping...)

Absent personal experience, I'm also aware that internet communities have long been a refuge for abuse victims and people raised in closed religions. In all cases, the horse has already bolted on protecting kids from scrutiny and surveillance - they have all the downsides of socialisation in the information age but none of the benefits.

Deciding people can't have these things until they're old enough to vote is absurd and dangerous. Dangerous in terms of parental violence, dangerous in terms of suicide risk. Meaningful content moderation would throw out very different outcomes - including around the ongoing radicalisation of adults
Click to expand...
This is the line that an Edinburgh Green Councillor took over the 'bell to bell' school phone ban, again with reference to LGBT. Are you saying this outweighs the broader concerns people have about young people and social media?
 
FTJT said:
My particular visceral concern is for closeted LGBT kids who frequently have no physical opportunity for safe conversations about their identity - there are more options, perhaps, than when I or anyone else here was a kid, but it's still a huge problem and it's an expanding one in the current climate (especially for trans kids, on who open season has fully been declared, and whose confidence teachers are now forbidden from keeping...)

Absent personal experience, I'm also aware that internet communities have long been a refuge for abuse victims and people raised in closed religions. In all cases, the horse has already bolted on protecting kids from scrutiny and surveillance - they have all the downsides of socialisation in the information age but none of the benefits.

Deciding people can't have these things until they're old enough to vote is absurd and dangerous. Dangerous in terms of parental violence, dangerous in terms of suicide risk. Meaningful content moderation would throw out very different outcomes - including around the ongoing radicalisation of adults
Click to expand...

Surely there are forums for these things though, right? Those platforms wouldn't fall under this ban.

If my daughter turns out to be gay, and didn't think she could talk to me or her mum about it, I'd much prefer she took her anxieties about it to a moderated, safe community rather than a sewer like X.
 
FTJT said:
My particular visceral concern is for closeted LGBT kids who frequently have no physical opportunity for safe conversations about their identity - there are more options, perhaps, than when I or anyone else here was a kid, but it's still a huge problem and it's an expanding one in the current climate (especially for trans kids, on who open season has fully been declared, and whose confidence teachers are now forbidden from keeping...)

Absent personal experience, I'm also aware that internet communities have long been a refuge for abuse victims and people raised in closed religions. In all cases, the horse has already bolted on protecting kids from scrutiny and surveillance - they have all the downsides of socialisation in the information age but none of the benefits.

Deciding people can't have these things until they're old enough to vote is absurd and dangerous. Dangerous in terms of parental violence, dangerous in terms of suicide risk. Meaningful content moderation would throw out very different outcomes - including around the ongoing radicalisation of adults
Click to expand...
Out of all the dangers kids are exposed to online and your worried about lgbt. Kids should be allowed to be kids and not have to worry about sexual orientation. They will find thier own way as millions already have and don't need online communities or pressure groups.
 
Slippery kaboosh said:
Out of all the dangers kids are exposed to online and your worried about lgbt. Kids should be allowed to be kids and not have to worry about sexual orientation. They will find thier own way as millions already have and don't need online communities or pressure groups.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, kids may very well know their sexual orientation long before they are 16. I think @FTJT concern is that they may not be able to talk to anyone other than online about it.

He's not promoting it
 
Two Headed Boy said:
Surely there are forums for these things though, right? Those platforms wouldn't fall under this ban.

If my daughter turns out to be gay, and didn't think she could talk to me or her mum about it, I'd much prefer she took her anxieties about it to a moderated, safe community rather than a sewer like X.
Click to expand...
I know my kids school has a kind of a system for this ("the place to be" or something like that). Classes have a "worry box" where the kids can describe their worries and anxieties, and counsellors visit each week and can meet with them privately if needed.
 
Archie said:
I think that's a fair point, but isn't the danger of social media (especially for kids) that you don't know who you might be talking to?
Click to expand...
This is a huge problem...i know of one case where photos were sent. However the person asking for the photos weren't who they claimed to be. After sending the first photo they were then blackmailed into sending more and if they didnt comply the original photo was being sent to friends and family. The person who sent the photo took thier in life.
 
Slippery kaboosh said:
This is a huge problem...i know of one case where photos were sent. However the person asking for the photos weren't who they claimed to be. After sending the first photo they were then blackmailed into sending more and if they didnt comply the original photo was being sent to friends and family. The person who sent the photo took thier in life.
Click to expand...

Humans just don't deserve nice things. Someone, somewhere will want to exploit others in some shape or form.

Bring on the 'roid
 
As someone who finds myself spending far too much time on social media - I'd ban it for everyone. But while it probably won't work for kids I think they do need to do something as we're raising generations of kids who have never read a book. I think that's a disaster
 
Slippery kaboosh said:
Out of all the dangers kids are exposed to online and your worried about lgbt. Kids should be allowed to be kids and not have to worry about sexual orientation. They will find thier own way as millions already have and don't need online communities or pressure groups.
Click to expand...
If I hadn't had the internet when I was a closeted 11-year-old I'd have been a dead 13-year-old.

Some people work out who they are late. Most people don't. Most queer people I know knew the rough shape of the thing, even if they didn't have the language, by about age 7. Same for my mum's generation.

That's why there are 'more' queer kids these days, btw. They have the language sooner. Nobody's getting talked into anything.

Experience of suicidal ideation or self-harm in gay kids by age 16 runs at about 40-50%, for trans kids it's about 80-90%. In Argentina, as an example of a country with data on this, the life expectancy for trans youth is 19. About half of that is suicide and the other half is murder and about half the murders are by family.

Having someone to speak to saves lives. 'what if they're secretly a nonce' is extremely low down the list of concerns compared to 'what if they tell someone i know'. And the kids so affected shouldn't have their needs rendered trivial just because they're unfamiliar.



I'm talking at length about the situation I've experienced and have talked to people about and have looked at data on. There are others, as I said. This is a situation that repeats. Removing access is dangerous if it works and useless if it doesn't; proper content moderation saves lives
 
Last edited:
Archie said:
This is the line that an Edinburgh Green Councillor took over the 'bell to bell' school phone ban, again with reference to LGBT. Are you saying this outweighs the broader concerns people have about young people and social media?
Click to expand...
To restate: I'm saying it's an object lesson in why the first, laziest idea isn't necessarily the best.
 
Bofahibee said:
As someone who finds myself spending far too much time on social media - I'd ban it for everyone. But while it probably won't work for kids I think they do need to do something as we're raising generations of kids who have never read a book. I think that's a disaster
Click to expand...

I binned it all (except here if that counts) 15 months ago in favour of more time on the Kindle.

Breath the free air my friend.
 
Hibee Kev said:
It's a total minefield. My 2 kids haven't got phones yet, but even with their tablets, the level of complexity in implementing parental controls on some of the apps etc is mind boggling. And I like to think I'm fairly IT-savvy. Layers of passwords, apps to control the apps, approval requests etc, and it's different every time depending on what game they're playing or app they're using.

The whole thing needs simplified. There should be some kind of over-arching one stop shop which monitors and controls everything, no idea how achievable that is.
Click to expand...
You’d think for them it would be very simple.
If they say they can’t then they’re lying imo
 
Bullshit.. ffs is deliberately made addictive to kids… i can’t even been to imagine some of the shit kids see, and hear through these apps. Apart from the obvious sites, porn and violence, the bullying will be off the scale, horrific for the young kids having their life at school being bullied, never mind in their own home. Ffs its even led to kids committing suicide ffs…
 
Ryan69 said:
A Government that knows more about you,than you do about them...Is Tyranny!

Parents need to take responsibility.
The parents should be held accountable.

Do you trust a Government that snoops on everything....yet redacts names in child trafficking?


Interesting case just finished in court inregard to Queer Stalin.

Why do all these rent boys have it in for him? 🤔
Click to expand...
Are you stupid? Do you think parents have 100% control over their kids every second of the day on their mobile phones?
Why not just make it so as they can’t get on these apps that lead to abuse? Why on earth would you be against that?
Are you just so away with the fairies that even s good thing by the govt is a conspiracy ffs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Hibs Chat
  • New Posts
  • Just Back
  • Chatroom