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

[LizardLore]

Just being announced now - social media banned for under-16s.

My instinct is it’s great, but I am interested in other views. My kids are very small so not an issue here yet.

YABU - the ban is bad
YANBU - the ban is good

By definition, it will require all SM users to prove they're over 16, do we trust these companies to keep our identity safe?

The track record with companies like Meta has been horrendous.

You can’t though, because you don’t have enough knowledge to develop a decent common sense for this

I completely agree with the ban and welcome it. Obviously there will be logistical challenges, and there will be certain individuals (both kids and adults/parents) who will willfully try to find a way around it but it's one of many steps in the right direction.

@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.

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.

I agree it is good, I came across a TikTok of a 7 year old girl’s “beauty regime”! And how about there is more of a crackdown on how some of the content is allowed to be there, not just piling the pressure onto parents and children to avoid it. Why are there so many vile things on the web that children can access. The ban is great but it’s not stopping awful things being created and accessible

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 😂😂

This is another concern.

China's policies are not to be emulated.

I mean Roblox should be banned outright, but isn't on the list.

Yes, it's mental. Anyone who thinks it's a good idea doesn't think but, don't worry, your betters will think for you.

Eugh roblox hate the thing. I’d rather my kid sat and played Fortnite very unMumsnetty of me however 😅

Does anyone know what could happen with VPNs?

Could they be banned if Labour went full control

Not thinking of dc but adults

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.

Considering some schools can't stop smoking, drug taking, under age sex and bullying in schools, I wouldn't rely on teachers stopping pupils using SM!

True we still get a vote. As much as that may rankle them.

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 🤣

oh don’t get me wrong; I don’t know how this will work in schools as I rely on it for videos of various things!

Funnily enough alcohol and driving cars both have age restrictions and anyone with half a brain doesn’t leave small children alone with a dog, so your argument makes no sense.

Impossible to vote. There will be positive consequences and negative consequences.

One of the laws of unintended consequences is if this is seen as an unacceptable level of micromanaging by the govt and if people come to see circumventing it as a relatively small thing, then which other laws might they feel they don't need to adhere to?

You could probably just put a dab on superglue on the lens or scratch it out with a bit of metal if you wanted to it's not that hard.

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

Yes phones were still pretty stupid but the forums and chat rooms and places like bebo existed and we talked to random strangers across the net.

No evidence of what you got upto either pre camera phones 😅 I’m at Stacy’s house… no I’m in a field 😳

Can you explain what the arguments against digital ID are? We all have ID in some form anyway, and most of us if we’re online have shared some personal data with tech companies already, what’s the argument against digital ID?

Passports are scannable/digital, last time I flew I had my photo taken & fingerprints scanned, all this is already happening.

I’m genuinely not being goady, I just hear this said and don’t know why people are against the concept?