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?

Well that’s the other side of the coin of course and it has to be a balance. But we legislate around alcohol, smoking and gambling.

OP, you keep saying that we legislate for use of drugs, alcohol, gambling, why not more restrictions around (say) TT or other social media?

The reason is very simple.

There is no demonstrable benefit to consuming alcohol or drugs, or gambling, at a young age. The most that some could argue (that I wouldn't agree with) is that it does no harm.

However, it is clear that there's potential harm, physically, and by connection, other ways, by any of these substances / activities.

Inappropriate use of SM / tech will certainly cause harm. But there's certainly benefits & positive outputs.

Governments need to push tech companies to manage / prevent the harmful content (as they are aiming to do) but not respond by excessively limiting individuals. (There are already requirements around age limits).

30 years of working with kids and families has taught me that parents do their best but there are massive differences in terms of education, parenting ability, resources and investment in children. We legislate around other potentially harmful and addictive things to protect children so why not this?

Yup. And I do. But plenty don’t for many reasons.

I'm 66, have never been on Tik Toc, don't have a Facebook account, and I wouldn't believe anything that our or the US government had to say on pretty much any subject under the sun. The UK and US governments have their own agendas, and are hardly sterling examples of truth, honesty or decency.

Every generation has its "scary" thing that is responsible for warping the young and undermining the bastions of civilisation (usually referred to as "us"). Once it was rock n' roll. The young will survive Tik Toc. I wish I was sure they will survive the lack of a decent education, a lack of a health service, a lack of decent jobs, wages and standards of living. Perhaps if the government wanted to do something about all those things, people wouldn't want to escape their reality.

So would you like to see the legislation around smoking, alcohol and gambling rolled back?

We legislate around other potentially harmful and addictive things to protect children so why not this?

I've answered this but just to add - the way forward is education, of parents & children, and support.

Legislating as you suggest, in open democracies, will not be observed, especially by those who don't see any harm.

And ultimately, it couldn't be enforced.

Ah, so your opinion is political rather than evidence based.

Yes. I guess we could just accept that we will head down the ranks in terms of our global and economic status. It would be fair in the long arc of history. I want more for my children and their generation though.

China has an abominable record on human rights and I don’t agree with a lot that they do. Likewise with many other nations.

What it’s not is a nation known for compassion in terms of its people.

Every generation has its "scary" thing that is responsible for warping the young and undermining the bastions of civilisation (usually referred to as "us"). Once it was rock n' roll.

💯 this.

I am sorry? Isn't politics evidence based? We called it "critical thinking" in the olden days - being capable of forming complex ideas and patterns of thought rather than looking for knee jerk and simplistic answers. I realise that it isn't quite as common nowadays. Must be a result of smart phones.

Nope. It’s not that I don’t like China. I don’t like its abuses of human rights and I’m fearful about its flexing in military terms. I suspect it’s intervening re SM is strategic and not child centred.

Not a fan of authoritarianism. I am a fan of science led, compassionate governance though.

@Concerningalgorithms

I think you make valid points, despite my disagreement with your assessment of risk or proposed solutions.

Why you continue to frame your points in the context of blanket denigration of China is puzzling. As much as I disagree with China's governance, policies & direction, comments like What it’s not is a nation known for compassion in terms of its people. are quite shocking.

This thread is fascinating. It’s clear that some participants are well-educated and possess a critical mindset, while others seem to accept everything presented by certain media sources without independent thought. It’s noteworthy that these media sources often present conflicting viewpoints

Yep. It’s a parental responsibility but we legislate around other addictive and harmful things so why not this?

Really? The whole nation lacks compassion? There goes that "yellow peril" thing again. The Chinese government may have its faults. Criticise the policies, not the people. Or should we judge everyone in the UK on the record of the UK government? Or all Americans to be little copies of Donald Trump. Not a lot of compassion in damning an entire nation, is there?

YANBU and parents now need to realise tech is out of the control of the government and manage their own kids lives. Don’t buy them a tablet at all, buy them a basic phone when they reach secondary age, and keep them busy with other things and playing outside.

I’m not going to place my kids mental health in the hands of large tech companies and our transient incompetent governments, I’m going to take it into my own hands and not allow them to descend into screen addiction through laziness and weak parenting.

I’ve heard similar stories at work. Kids ultimately relieved to be free from the addiction or the pressure of SM. It’s toxic and like all toxins, should be moderated and kids protected from them b

@Concerningalgorithms Our government doesnt care, I sont think any political party will care about this tbh.

From my very limited experience of Chinese culture, it is so different to the UK. The parents have high expectations of their children. Education is everything.

Our country is f£%#ked up.. we have useless parents who won't engage with support, we have awful children terrorising schools and communities and a govt that doesnt care.

Yes. I heard a Radio 4 piece about a similar experiment. Within 20 mins a video of animal abuse, lingered on it and then more and more of that kind of content.

There is ample evidence out there that screen time is not recommended for under 2s at all and then limited amounts for children )I believe from 2-4 that’s a maximum of 1 hour a day . People CHOOSE to ignore the WHO advice on screen time and don’t monitor what the child is watching

as parents WE are responsible for the amount of screen time/access to social media/apps that our children have.

we legislate around other addictive and harmful things so why not this?

You are beginning to sound like a parrot OP 😀

This has been answered.

@Concerningalgorithms @Ilovecaviar

Neither of my teens has seen any of the wildly inappropriate content you mention

Rubbishy nonsense? Certainly. But nothing worrying.

Does that mean that they couldn't be? No. But that's where critical thinking & active parenting comes in.

I agree and yes, I guess my wording was somewhat alarmist but it is not a completely out there concern. I read proper news sources, from a variety of perspectives, both right and left leaning. I’m not prone to hyperbole usually. I see with my own two eyes the devastating impact on kids whose parents are not managing to protect them. You are clearly on it and doing a terrific job. But lots of kids don’t have the benefit of this.

As part of a balanced diet. Expose children to excessive amounts and it introduces a host of issues. Much like social media.