Kids have infinite time and resourcefulness, they'll just use something that is potentially even worse than social media now.
I legitimately think that social media should be wiped from existence. Of course there could still be group chats, forums, blogs but we need to move away from having everyone’s relationships and desire for community be so easily capable of being exploited for ad revenue.
Think of banning all tobacco besides pipes, hand rolled ones and cigars. Yes, you’d still have people smoking but you’d have much less of it. Similarly, there’s no need for instagram, Facebook, TikTok or twitter to exist.
Perhaps any law that bans social media also makes hacker news and Reddit illegal! I would be alright with this personally. Hackernews could be replaced with a newsletter and Reddit would be better off if it were federated.
Answer: No, nope, negatory.
First hand encounters with high school aged teens addicted to online gambling, in particular slot machines or pokies as we call them, following the lead of influencers who will wager $10AUD per spin and post win porn to insta/tiktok.
Online casino gaming is banned in Australia and requires technical ability to access and establish accounts.
They’re also hooked on disposable vapes which are illegal in Australia but are sold openly in every city/town nationwide, along with imported asian cigarettes and Tobacco. Shops are raided a couple times a year but are never left closed for long, there’s normally a few kids retailing at most schools.
We also have hoards of teenagers “terrorising” public roads on high powered e-bikes, again illegal to operate outside of private property in Australia.
I can only speculate as to the percentage of these young ones who’s gambling, vaping, and vehicular menacery was facilitated by their carers but I know that $3000-$7000AUD Surrons don’t grow on trees.
These changes will be unpopular with teens, parents and the companies required to enforce them, there is almost no way this happens, as much as I believe it is truly imperative.
I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but our governments do not have a good track record with this stuff.
bookofjoe•7mo ago