China and our children. AIBU to be deeply concerned?

[Concerningalgorithms]

I read this article and am so concerned. So many of our kids are on TT.

https://nypost.com/2023/02/25/china-is-hurting-us-kids-with-tiktok-but-protecting-its-own/amp/

Basically, TT and other SM have the same effect on our brain as addictive substances such as heroine. Developers know this and create highly addictive (make use of our knowledge of the reward centre in our brain), apps/platforms/games that leave us with dopamine crashes when we can’t have it. So that tantrum or meltdown when we say ‘turn screens off now’ is partly, if not mostly, to do with that, is one example.

The article above says that China use different algorithms there for TT so it is helpful for children’s development. They are peddling addictive, concentration lowering crap to children around the world, but protecting their own children.

Why are we allowing this? Why are we not protecting our children too? The science is there.

And AIBU to think that we are at risk, as a country, of raising a generation that will be less well adapted and more vulnerable in the future to a hostile take over?

Tik Tok is an app that shows suggested videos based on what the user has already watched and channels they have chosen to follow. So what US kids are suffering from is 100% caused by what content they choose to watch. Content that is almost universally produced by other English speaking kids in the US and the west. China isn’t hurting the kids, they are hurting themselves.

Douyin does Tik Tok style videos as well, but is less protective than the western Tik Tok that limits advertising to children. It is video streaming paid for by e-commerce. Users are bombarded with far more advertisement videos and unlike TikTok, you can buy now with a single click anything that catches your eye without leaving the app.

If you think that then, with all due respect, you don’t know enough about brain development, structure and function. It’s highly addictive and throws up any context you pause on. If you drive past a car crash on the other side of the motorway, most people look. It’s human nature.

It’s not just Chinese developed apps either of course, but they are wanting world domination, well the leaders are.

But more importantly, why are we allowing this to happen to our kids? Why aren’t we insisting on tighter controls?

So educate your child. Ensure they have real interests and don't just follow the latest fad. Teach them common sense by modelling that behaviour. Take the time to understand what they are watching.

My ds dislikes Tiktok intently because it doesn't allow him to choose content. But I didn't let ds have social media until he was old enough to handle it - early teens. He still doesn't have a social media account through choice.

He watches YouTube related to his interests instead.

I do know enough to know that Tik Tok isn’t worse than Danyuin.

The addictive aspect of various SM sites and apps has been an embedded feature for over twenty years. This isn’t something new and was actually invented by and first implemented in the USA.

Completely agree with you @Concerningalgorithms it’s not even the content they are consuming at all, it’s the neural pathways this sort of engagement with SM creates. Its alters brain chemistry. I’m stating the obvious of course.

That’s a parents’ job imho. It’s up to us to restrict and monitor our children’s internet activity.

Here is an article on how Silicon Valley deliberately invented their addictive properties
https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-insiders-tell-bbc-how-tech-firms-turn-users-into-addicts-2018-7?r=MX&IR=T

Hold the front page! Scrolling through shit on a screen is addictive!

Have you only just realised that @Concerningalgorithms

Are you one of those people who copies and pastes that you don't give Mark Zuckerberg permission to look at your photos? You are, aren't you?

(On a serious note, I teach secondary, and they aren't really into Tiktok. I've heard far more adults talking about it in the last couple of years)

No TT in this house. Managing our own DC fine because we know about this stuff, but I work with kids. So many of them have unrestricted use from as early as 10.

Why so aggressive? Are you OK?

Yes, I’ve known about this for a long time and manage my own household but work with children and see the impact. What I’ve only just found out is that China are protecting their kids from it. That’s not out of compassion and care you know.

No one has to use it, or allow their children to. You protect children by actually parenting them, not by expecting developers to do it for you.

It is. But it’s also parents jobs to lots of things that they don’t manage to through lack of experience, lack of knowledge, lack of resources, laziness, or a million and one other reasons. We enforce education. Why not not other things that improve our chances of a well resourced workforce (to put the economic argument forward).

No. But lots do. Lots don’t read the news. Don’t understand brain development.

Yes, but this is a parenting problem, not a evil Chinese out to dominate the world by messing with our children’s minds problem as you seem to be insinuating,

The thing is, Tik Tok is a Chinese company so if they don't do what they're told, they get closed down, hence the age controls within China (which Chinese kids are undoubtedly quite good at circumventing anyway). It's not some scheme to deliberately fuck up American kids. Yes, scrolling any SM content for hours is terrible for your brain, concentration span and MH, but parents kind of need to step up on that (no, it's probably not fine to allow teens to scroll in their bedrooms from 4pm to 12am every day), plus have conversations with their dc about algorithms and how you'll get pushed content. DH (in course of his job) has met a lot of these tech bro's and it is not a myth that most of them don't let their own kids near it.

Honestly I share your concerns but it's not China's fault.

Exactly. We are literally shaping their neural pathways using an addictive product. Some of the kids I work with, I just can’t see a future for them. They are so hooked and no amount of educating the parents seems to help. They are often depressed and spend their time scrolling/watching too. Swathes of them. It’s so sad.

It's very simple in my house - SM of all types - including Facebook, X, tik tok, Snapchat, Instagram - is banned for under 16s. There is no reason anyone under 16 should have access to these platforms at all.

Admittedly I don't have children but this to me is a parents job. What I can watch within reason shouldn't be restricted because of other people's children.

As far as China goes, I think TT is the least of your worries.

This is just parenting as far as I can see. There's lots of bad stuff out there. Teach your dc to navigate it all. Drink, drugs, gambling, social media, gaming, endless Netflix, junk food, consumer culture.

I truly believe it’s both. And other things. China have made some aggressive moves if you follow the news. Not even that subtle.

That’s a parents’ job imho. It’s up to us to restrict and monitor our children’s internet activity.

Exactly that @BabaBarrio I am not going to blame China if I don't do my job as a parent.

But we don’t freely and legally allow drugs/gambling etc to under 18s because we know the risks. We wouldn’t say smoking crack is a parenting issue.

And I truly believe this is a risk to out society. We need a generation of bright and motivated adults. Not a generation of addicts.

It can be very hard to realise your nation is on the downward turn of the wheel while another is on the upward turn. It’s the nature of geo-politics and as old as human society.

I’m not blaming China. We have our own history in that sense. But I am asking why are we not protecting our kids? Our investment for the future?