Australia plans a mininum age for social media

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Australia plans to introduce a mininum age for social media, somewhere between 14 and 16.

Even if I'm not a big fan of social media (I prefer Internet communities instead), I don't think legal action is OK (just think of China and its online video gaming regulations for children). I could've understand if it was only because of the fear of pedophiles contacting children, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia sees it as a way to get more children off their devices, hoping more of them will instead join other activities (physical social interacting or sports).

Ever since the release of Death Race to video arcades in April 1976, the adult world has constantly spat on video gaming. As video games now slowly grow into acceptance after almost 50 years, I think the next moral panic will be about social media.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Amazing news.

And China is absolutely right in their quest to restrict social media for younger users.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

Amazing news.

And China is absolutely right in their quest to restrict social media for younger users.

China has restricted online video gaming, not social media.

[The Deadman]

Yeah China's restricted the amount of time you can be on video games because they're afraid it'll turn to some sort of addiction.

BUT that being said, children should have no access to social media whatsoever. It's why apps like TikTok are allowed to thrive, they have 12 year olds to impress with their outright garbage.

[Andrew NDB]

I would hope the parents would do that anyway. But if they won't then... OK, I guess?

[Zulithe]

Australia has overly strict and in some cases flat out draconian policies for the internet in their country. But this is one I can get behind. I think this is going to be very difficult to enforce though.

[Mayhem]

Yeah it’s the enforcement part I’m not sure how they will enact.

[IndigoErth]

Been wishing it was more restrictive for my nephew, but unfortunately, I have no say there.

He's already gotten the idea that people getting likes and followers online is somehow impressive or important. He doesn't have his own phone, but a tablet (for games and videos), uses a parent's phone (or old one) also for games/videos, and last Christmas, at age 7, got a whole gaming PC system and corner set up. (Wtf do you even get him now? A car?) Some of this I blame on the influence of some kid that was in his class either last year or the year before (we're talking 1st or 2nd grade) who was a "gamer" and his parents let him have his own YouTube channel, and my nephew got it in his head from that kid and people's gaming videos online that he wants that, too.. They are going to have some real problems with that classmate (former, I hope) in coming years, guaranteed, and don't want my nephew being a similar case... I'm not against him likening the games (it's mostly Roblox right now), but it's been a bit much.

I wish I had good opportunities to try to impart that this superficial nonsense on social media, etc and what strangers think of you does not matter at all. It's just messing up too many young people these days valuing that pointless crap too much. Unfortunately, not only is he spoiled to a large degree, getting his way too much, he's also too stubborn, "MY way," and probably won't hear it anyhow.



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I can understand a society or its government wanting to try to set restrictions on things that are covertly risky, like social media, that sits there and looks harmless at face value. But how you really implement that, good luck. I mean, FB and others always had an age limit of 13 or so already, or used to, but there's no way of stopping anyone from getting around that. It's the parent's job to have control of what their kids are up to.


Can we limit Boomer use of it while we're at it. Seeing too much increased senior brain rot, esp memory issues, that may not all be aging and partly associated with hours and hours of scrolling BS on FB, etc. Of course, just like the kid, suggestions that it has a negative impact and maybe put it down sometimes won't be heard.

[member_removed]

Originally Posted by Zulithe

Australia has overly strict and in some cases flat out draconian policies for the internet in their country. But this is one I can get behind. I think this is going to be very difficult to enforce though.

By all means please list some evidence, other than just your opinion.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by The Deadman

Yeah China's restricted the amount of time you can be on video games because they're afraid it'll turn to some sort of addiction.

China claimed that, but the real reasons for the restrictions was because the government fears the Internet in general.