AIBU to think banning social media for under-16s is a good idea?

Parents need help. The ones who under estimate the harm, the ones who haven’t got the time to constantly be checking and monitoring, the ones who get worn down by the whining of kids, the ones who thinks it must be okay if everyone is doing it, the ones who do t understand tech well.
We’re all new to this. We didn’t have SM as kids or teens, we don’t understand that our children have essentially been guinea pigs for SM companies and their algorithms and their marketing so they can make money and more money.

and if you’re the parent who thinks it’s all hysteria - well crack on then and help your kids dodge a ban. There’s always the parent who give their under age kids fake ID to get vapes or booze or provide them with booze but no-one can argue that the ban on cigarettes to the under 18s and the ban on cigarette advertising and hiding cigarettes behind shelving in shops hasn’t been instrumental in the huge drop in numbers of smokers in the UK

Vulnerable children is a good point.

Safety controls etc are needed, sure, but I'm not sure banning 15 year olds from Youtube is the way forward. This ban seems reactive and knee-jerk.

'70% of parents have told the Australia's internet regulator their children were still on these platforms, a recent survey found.'

Whatsapp isn't on the list, as far as I can see.

Labour really want digital ID.

That's exactly why we don't need a ban that's unenforceable. You've managed to parent properly and that's the issue. We need parents to actually be parents.

Do you genuinely know how much of your personal information your social media already holds? I doubt it, but you only need to look at how algorithms work to realise most people have already given a lot more info out than they likely realise.

It doesn’t link to social media.

@ArabellaScottive Nc from fwr due to discussing my children.

Im normally am in 100 % agreement with you.

I am also aware of the other arguments against what this ban entails.

However in my professional life I have dealt with far too many safeguarding incidents over the years directly linked to phones and SM.

And it’s always the most vulnerable children who are affected.

And you and I have discussed at length how many children have been brainwashed by trans influencers on YouTube.

This is one area where, when I weigh up all the available sides to the debate, I’m in favour of a ban. I see it like cigarettes.

None of it existed 25 years ago.

First case I was aware of was a send child in y3 who had seen a dog fight on a mobile phone. Was very excited by it. Had a mobile phone, the old Nokia ones which had basic crap video. That was 20 years ago.

Digit id already exists. You must have a digital id driving license and a digital id passport now.

Digit id already exists. You must have a digital id driving license and a digital id passport now.

I suspect it’s just another way to justify digital ID

Smart phones didn’t exist 25 years ago.

There are different issues here; digital photography and videos.

social media v social connection

Gaming and how some gaming is actually “healthy.”

Ideally a type of smart phone without a camera but access to maps and just phones and messages would be perfect for under 16s

Get them talking on the phone again!

I went to Glastonbury pre phones and then post (brick) phones. Tbe pre me was so much better as we had to organise our day every morning and decide who was doing what when. Then meet at certain points.

Second was rubbish as we neglected this, replied on phones which totality failed us 🤣

Smart phones didn’t exist 25 years ago.

There are different issues here; digital photography and videos.

social media v social connection

Gaming and how some gaming is actually “healthy.”

Ideally a type of smart phone without a camera but access to maps and just phones and messages would be perfect for under 16s

Get them talking on the phone again!

I went to Glastonbury pre phones and then post (brick) phones. Tbe pre me was so much better as we had to organise our day every morning and decide who was doing what when. Then meet at certain points.

Second was rubbish as we neglected this, replied on phones which totality failed us 🤣

Just an expansion of the big state for me, discouraging parents to actually think about what is good and bad for their child and implementing restrictions on it.

Banning stuff I am never really in favour of, even if it is nothing to do with me, because sooner or later the government will probably ban something I like.

Justifications in terms of stuff like "it saves lives", well banning alcohol, cars and dogs would save lives. Not sure there is a great case for banning those either.

Suspect Starmer is just rushing this one through before Burham gets on the scene, he has to be seen to be doing something and this is something that makes a lot of noise and doesn't cost the government any money.

Wonder if they have realised that a ton of free learning materials are hosted on youtube? mainly gcse prep, tons of maths , english and computer science stuff.
I get all the others, but a blanket ban in youtube is problematic (i’m all for a “youtube school” with only verified teaching materials!)

I had to check that then I was like no sure not 25 years ago 😅

Msn message a pinnacle of my tween and teen life 1999. So aol chatrooms and all that LOTS of random chat room around then. Bebo 2005, my space 2003. You tube 2005.

Logging out of the internet and back on to change your ip address to get around a chatroom ban 😂 talking to strangers online.

and now I feel really old as a 34 year old who grew up on all of them 😂 despite knowing clearly if I was a tween they had been out ages.

My motarola rza going hello moto as its ring tone oh my 😂😂

I suspect it’s just another way to justify digital ID

I’m sure Labour would be out out on their arses we are not North Korea.

I know it’s in to control peoples thoughts but you’d hope entirely banning VPNs and such would be a step too far. Though maybe they want to hand the next vote to the other side.

I support it and hope it is quickly enforced. As parents we can say no to social media, but what happens when they go to school and all their friends are on snapchat at break/lunch, they are still going to have access to it. I hope schools will now ensure its not being accessed in school time and it supports us as parents to enforce them not accessing it.