Banning SM for under 16s

[CuteKoalas]

I've just seen a reel that it went to parliament today to be discussed about banning SM for under 16s.

I personally think its quite a good idea. The mindless scrolling I see dsc do on Instagram for hours on end, cannot be any good for them.
There has already been bullying on WhatsApp too
( their dm allows it on their phone ) they are 11.

I just think how simpler our lives were as teems without it.

Or am I being a grump ?

My other dcs are too young for it. However they often try to badger me to have it.

I also wonder what will happen to all the opened accounts if it was to get banned.
Or even how they would police it.

Clarify social media...
And how it can be enforced.

Messaging apps? Video sites? Games forums? Teams?

They can't police it now. How are they going to do it if they change the age?

It's a parents responsibility I think.

Bonkers and simplistic idea.

I would definitely welcome this, it’s addictive, unhealthy and they often see things they are not ready for, let alone the vile messaging amongst peers that normalises abuse and violence.

It might seem like a reasonable idea in itself, not sure how it could be policed though. What's to stop kids from fiddling their dates of birth to get around it?

the law could state they’re not allowed smart phones and a parent who buys them one is breaking the law?

It won't work because either under 16s will lie about their age or the parents will just set the accounts up for them.
I personally see no problem with under 16s having age appropriate social media.

( their dm allows it on their phone ) they are 11

This is the issue.

The issue isn't social media. It's poor parenting. 11 is underage for social media apps and WhatsApp.

Too many parents don't parent their children (I have 6 so I know it's not easy) and then expect governments and schools to take big measures to do things they should be doing.

Yes I thought they'd just fiddle dob.

I believe in Australia they banned it for under 16s but may have misread that

While I agree that for some kids, it’s become an addiction and there are clearly a lot of issues around it, I just don’t see how it can be policed. Those parents who don’t limit it now still won’t. Kids are smart, they will find a way round whatever restrictions are in place. The surest way to make something more desirable is to ‘ban’ it.

I think there are far more important things that the government should be looking at tbh.

Banning it won't make parents who already let their kids have age inappropriate apps not buy them a phone and fiddle the age.

Aye for me.

It's already been done in other places, like Australia, so it's perfectly possible.

No smartphones until 16. They can have a dumb phone to text/call in emergencies.

It's beyond time that this happened. The evidence is in and it's clear that smartphones are ruining kids' lives and their chances of a happy future.

Curious how they can prevent a smart phone under 16 though.
As nothing stops them borrowing one?

Undoubtedly difficult to enforce, but I do think that we need to start making parents consider the effects of the internet, or more specifically smartphones, on their children. Not so long ago parents thought it was perfectly acceptable to smoke around children, until they were educated/forced to stop. I think that so many parents are addicted to their own screens that they normalise it in their own children.

I would ban the phones rather than the SM

They've voted for a ban, but a lot of people are dubious as to how it will work.

Messaging platforms, so presumably WhatsApp, aren't included. WhatsApp is the biggest source of trouble in teens in my experience. It's where the bulk of any bullying happens.

How would they police that ?and their couldn't arbitrarily ban them because children with type one diabetes for example usually need them ,as their CGM links up with the phone to alert them if their blood sugar is too high or low.

Nothing has actually been done in Australia yet beyond a vote.

They haven't even tested the age verification tech yet.

Well they need to crack on. Every country does. No kid anywhere should have a smartphone until 16.

How do they prevent kids accessing smart phones in their own home ?

Its sort of like saying we should ban cars because some people speed.

Parents just need to parent.

It's interesting how quickly things are changing.

I was called a "tech dragon" and "behind the times" on here less than 5 years ago because my kids aren't allowed their phones overnight, apps have to be approved on my phone and they weren't allowed Snapchat or Instagram underage.

My now post- uni age kids complained a lot at the time but are very vocal now that they're glad I was strict. They actually encourage even stricter rules for their younger siblings.

I recently had to upload my ID to Roblox to prove my age regarding the parental controls on my daughter’s account, so it’s possible something like this could be implemented?

Or we should ban under 17's from driving. Oh, hang on........