DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Social Media bans for under 16's

Australia have done it - 2 months ago. It's early days and a lot of teens close to 16 are reporting still being able to access based on age verification scans etc.

Spain is about to do it. The UK has announced a review of what a ban would look like for under 16's. Greece also.

I was wondering what individual's takes are on this? Musk and others have gone full attack calling these countries fascist and claiming it's a restriction of freedom of speech - many people believe no matter how hard it is for Social Media companies to do it - they need to be held to the same standards as other media (radio and print) for any content their platforms are used to spread and promote.

I'll leave aside the lunacy of Musk talking about fascism while the US has masked agents running around pulling anyone over they like without cause, just because the color of their skin - or turning up at their house when someone has recorded video of those agents in public. I do not see an issue with beginning to limit the age some kids are online and being groomed or brainwashed by SM content. Certainly I don't think kids as young as 8 should be on there. And maybe a real and effective ban on kids accessing **some** but not necessarily all of the content before they turn 16 is more than justified. . . I am assuming as this gains momentum the enforcement and mechanism for restriction will be more refined and effective.

I am also in favor of holding the SM companies themselves accountable for the content their platform spread and promote - whether it is hate speech or malicious lies that if it were in print or over the air, would get a publisher or broadcaster in jeopardy. It seems like an impossible challenge given the numbers involved - but with AI and the profits these companies generate it would seem the crying and hand wringing that you hear is more for show than anything else.

It might be that opinions follow political persuasion or maybe/hopefully this is something there is more commonality on?

Two separate comments to your post:

First, I don't have any issues with the age restriction.
You have to be 16 to drive,
You have to be 18 to vote,
You have to be 21 to drink alcohol,
You have to be 35 to be eligible to become president

I actually wouldn't be opposed to the restriction age being 23, or at least 18
Biochemically our brains are still developing until age 23
I feel that would be a good age of restriction
(I feel alcohol should be 23 as well but different topic)
Pychosocially 18 makes the most sense to me.


Second, regarding holding platforms accountable:
On one hand people say these platforms should be held responsible for what gets posted
On the other, poeple say they shouldn't be allowed to block/censor what people post
To me these seem mutaually exclusive

I don't know which is the better option.
That seems like a topic that would sustain it's own thread