not sure why they're framing this like it doesn't make sense. of course the people who've created the problem would be in a position to solve it.
One way of solving this is if the default was everything locked down, then effort needed to give the children anything, forcing parents to consider each permission.
However I also see that parents are addicted to their devices and social media, so don't see the problem.
Social media is by contrast fairly designed to spread 17 different kinds of poisonous stupidity. So you liked $conspiracy_theory... how about 10 more 3 of which suggest genocide!
No... They spent 13 years in government school, that is not the parents fault if they can't read. If we assume its the parents job to educate their kids, there will be some 1-5% of kids that fall through the cracks, damning millions of kids to failure.
For policy that we care about, it is not good enough to have parents decide.
Making a website adults-only should be as easy as setting a web server's config parameter. The fact that the industry has taken so long to come up with a decent Internet standard for this is pretty ludicrous. It doesn't have to be perfect. Even just a minimal implementation like requiring an "X-adult: yes" HTTP header from the browser would work for a locked-down client like an iPhone.
Sure, older kids will get around it but that's okay; they probably learned something.
1) software that makes it easy to do for the layman (browser extensions etc.), and
2) scams and malware that target children offering a "bypass" to access adult websites
Then parents, teachers, and administrators need to be aware of the latest bypass mechanism thus sending them on a wild goose chase. I think this would end up similar to the Do Not Track header which ultimately no one cared about or took seriously.
A locked down iPhone or Chromebook is going to thwart everyone but the most determined without compromising any privacy.
It's already a given that this only works on a locked-down device. Making it a simple binary "is this device owned by a minor" switch means parents will actually be able to understand it.
> 2) scams and malware that target children offering a "bypass" to access adult websites
And advertising to children should also be banned, so they won't be exposed to such scams, among other things. Thankfully this header lets the site know if they're breaking the law by showing scam ads, which makes prosecution super easy.
> I think this would end up similar to the Do Not Track header which ultimately no one cared about or took seriously.
Oh, of course none of this works unless it has the teeth of law to back it up.
No, I would want children to know better than to buy cigarettes.
There is no standard ID check protocol at liquor stores. If you're old they can just look at ya, some just look at your ID, others scan the ID. The govt didn't need to provide a standard. Just don't sell to kids. Figure it out! It's not on the govt to figure it out for you!
It uses meta HTML tags and correct configuration of the browser to block/allow different ratings. I suppose one could use wget, curl, or lynx to bypass that stuff and download the HTML files, and then find the links to the the JPEGs in them...
The government makes many basic restrictions for protecting children: parents can't give their children drugs or alcohol, porn, guns etc. Social media definitely fits in this category because it has been shown to cause mental harm.
Being shown to cause harm is also a meaninglessly low standard. Bathtubs, pools, and bikes can cause harm. You would need to show an actually useful standard. Lets propose will cause an unacceptable level of harmn that cannot be mitigated by less restrictive means.
I don't buy the argument that you are unacceptably harmed because you aren't capable of denying your kid social media nor do I buy the idea that social media couldn't be regulated to be less shitty and harmful.
So precedent exists. Social media is at least as harmful as porn.
This is why you find a circle of friends and like mind neighbors who raise their kids in a manner that makes you comfortable. It’s never 1:1, but it doesn’t have to be you against the entire world either. (Though it can certainly feel like that at times)
Sorry, no, this is just abdicating your responsibility as a parent. "It's hard" isn't an excuse for throwing your hands up and handing your responsibility over to the state.
sdoering•1h ago
Because if you want to use these platforms this would mean you would have to prove your age.
Then I ask myself if I am wearing my tinfoil hat?
Sadly, nowadays, I am just not sure anymore.
V__•1h ago
It's just bribery, sorry I mean lobbying. Push this through, we make money and will fund your reelection.
analog31•49m ago
iLoveOncall•28m ago
They don't give a flying fuck about the children, they want to have total control over the citizens because all westerns countries are more or less slowly slipping towards authoritarianism.
Dictatorships in 21st century first world country will be impossible to topple, once the government can reliably link your ID to your online activity, you'll be arrested before you even know you'll commit an anti-governmental act.
seneca•13m ago
ocdtrekkie•5m ago
Are governments good at regulating technology? Generally no. Is there a real problem that needs to be regulated: Oh my God, yes.