AIBU to think the social media ban will be impossible to enforce?

[Viviennemary]

I'm not totally against this ban on social media for under 16's. but I don't see how it can be enforced. It's on BBC news now. One boy spent 14 hours a day. Another girl 9 hours. Crazy.

I very much doubt this will be enforceable and will work as the genie is already out of the bottle. Kids will find a work around saying they are over 16 even if they aren’t. Secondary school age kids communicate regarding social arrangements using snapchat etc. Also many kids and ridiculous parents think that buying/giving their kids a smart phone around age 10 is a status symbol. Yes, I know it can be abused but I think it’s naive to think this legislation will work and solve the problem.

I think it would have been easier to implement if rolled out from Year 7 and below moving up year 8 and below etc until 16 year olds are captured. If a 15 year old has full internet access they will find a way around it because a lot of teens seem addicted to their phones and SM.

How will it not be enforceable? If a social media company is found to not be implementing adequate age checks, they will get fined by OFCOM. Are you suggesting that OFCOM won't bother to enforce the regulations?

@CrocsNotDocsexactly. Parents ask me how my kids arent on social media. Im honestly dumbfounded. I say no. Parents dont say no to their children anymore. Ive always worked in the education sector 20+ years, and ive had enough. Kids are not told no. As soon as my children are in secondary school Im leaving education.

And let's me honest, the government know that parents wont enforce it. It is solely to bring in digital ID. We are all going to have to prove who we are before we log in to social media because of this. No more freedom of speech.
And if you dont have a problem with this then I suggest you put your full name and city you are from as your mumsnet name. Their is no such thing as anonymous anymore.

That's nothing to do with the point I was answering.

You're out of touch with a lot of people's reality.

how was the internet pre 1950's ?

Haven't read entire thread, but this is digital ID via default. It also stops any information that the current government don't deem suitable being released to the masses - which screams dictatorship 'you will only know what we think you should know (whether that's true or not).
This government literally refused enquiries into the grape gangs. It's not our kids they care about.
It is control.

They will be coming for the adults next.

The kids can vote at 16 now ..... but can only view government audited information.

The theory is great - the reality is wholly sinister.

I'll wait patiently for my comment to be removed.

If you’d bothered to read even some of the thread you’d see lots of people have raised this, and nobody’s comment has been removed - why are you so paranoid it would be?

The parents won’t need to enforce it, the social media platforms will have to.

Age restrictions already exist on adult content on the internet, its been shown to work and if tech companies don’t comply they can be geo blocked.

If you think you’re not identifiable on social media already you’re incredibly naive, thinking you can hide behind a screen isn’t freedom of speech.

Given the hysteria about digital IDs I very much doubt the government will be bringing in the concept, and between the government & tech companies they hold so much of your data as it is.

I think it’s the impetus parents need to say, no this is illegal you are too young and you don’t get it. Then as a parent you police it (or in some cases probably try to enable them to get it!) But the fact it’s difficult to enforce isn’t a good argument for not banned it imo

Reading these comments, some posters are conflating social media with the internet. Kids will still be able to use the internet to research their favourite subjects. It’s just that society has recognised that social media has more negative effects than positive ones on the developing brain.

And you are making excuses for people who were perfectly capable of learning (and knew where the world was heading) and yet were too stubborn to bother.

I agree, but I think that in itself shows that adults as much as kids need more digital literacy.

Which comment are you referring to?

Even if it cuts down use it’s worth it. Most bans don’t fully eradicate something. You still get under 18s who smoke but you’d get more if there wasn’t a ban.

Who knows but the fact that it's the law will be much easier to justify to my law abiding children. Hopefully most parents with an iota of parenting ability are capable of supporting their children in what should be a pretty simple discussion at home

and disabled people. my adult dc would not be able to get a driving licence.

My children are 15 and 12. Neither had a smartphone until Year 7. Eldest has a YouTube account and Insta, youngest watches YouTube but doesn’t have an account. Both have WhatsApp. Their social media usage has never been an issue as they know DH and I pay - and therefore own - their phones. Phones are given to DH and I at 8pm (they have no other devices or TVs in their rooms) and we do random spot checks of posts. I am a follower on DD’s YouTube account so I monitor her chat.

Banning SM until 16 isn’t going to magically solve all of society’s ills and parents will still need to do what I’m currently doing but at 16 when their DC may push back further at an age where they feel more independent, whereas my kids have been used to always me tracking their SM usage.

How about solutions for addicted adults and misinformation? Anyone watched “TipToe” yet? Prime example of middle aged men being manipulated in social media.

Im a teacher too. We recommend YouTube sites for revision. In m experience bullying issues occur over WhatsApp. Parents will still need to monitor that.

What are 'grape gangs'? Do you mean rape? If so write it, you're not a 12 year-old on tiktok.

There have been multiple enquiries into the rape gangs: the Rotherham enquiry was published in 2014 for example. The statutory independent enquiry covering all the areas affected was started in December and is ongoing - you can read the updates here: www.gov.uk/government/collections/independent-inquiry-into-grooming-gangs

It's not digital ID by default, any more than the current age limit of 13 is. And the idea that "It also stops any information that the current government don't deem suitable being released to the masses" is ludicrous - this is not press censorship, no newspapers or other media outlets are affected.

Your comment will not be deleted.

As a light-hearted aside, who remembers that early form of “social media” from the late 90s, long before the term “social media” was coined? I refer to teletext, with pages such as Backchat and ‘Zine, where teenagers could write in. A very slow forerunner to social media. There were comments saying “I bet this is monitored by teachers”. Discussions on these could get quite heated. And I remember one comment, which I think sums up the whole of modern social media:

”Backchat is brill because of the stupid things you all talk about. Keep up the good work everyone, it’s so funny!” Could be a description of AIBU.

Hi there,

We thought users on this thread might be interested to know that we're hosting an AMA with Baroness Beeban Kidron tomorrow. She's been one of the most influential campaigners behind efforts to regulate tech platforms and strengthen protections for children online, and her new book USERS: How Big Tech Took Control and How to Fight Back is published this week.

If you'd like to ask a question, you can post on the AMA thread here.

Thanks,
MNHQ