In short:
Reddit and Kick will be included in Australia’s social media ban for children under 16.
The communications minister says the list of included platforms is “dynamic” and could change.
What’s next?
The ban will begin from December 10.
I wish we could just regulate algorithmic recommendation and make companies over a certain size liable for content they promote (like publishing houses are) instead.
I am really concerned that this will do nothing to stop general social degradation and may actually cement the power of large operators by making smaller companies of ambiguous status legally risky; also pushing children to engage with hellscape platforms like 4chan or platforms run by other states Australia has less ability to regulate.
Also it’s a fucking privacy nightmare, but I’m aware that us tinhatters are alone in our damn Cassandra complexes as everything we’ve warned about happens over and over again.
This.
I saw somewhere the ecommissioner said they’re getting to 4chan and they’ll deal with it in the second wave based on objectionable content, but I’m not sure what the outcome will be. 4chan and Kiwifarms are suing.
Also there’s stuff like unmoderated Minecraft servers and Roblox.
Edit: Age verification seems to be coming in for Roblox too so 4chan it is
There’s so many. I was there 2000 years ago when we just hung out on IRCs and xmpp.
If you actually dig into the studies a lot of the excessive socmed time of kids is chatting. what we used to do with MSN and shite.
Kids will find a way to hang out and share stuff. Probably better that it happens in the light.
I am reminded of older attitudes towards sex and teens. Preventing kids from being open about their sexual activities didn’t make it safe, it meant that people fucked in filthy places and didn’t have a proper education, or made friends with someone seedy as to get porn.
We should provide safe(\r) alternatives, not ban things and then pretend that bored teenagers aren’t some of the most creative people on the planet.
This. If I was designing the social media ban I’d have 3 rules:
- To post content of any kind publicly requires age verification (messages are exempt).
- To receive algorithmic content recommendations requires age verification.
- To install a social media app to your phone requires age verification (desktop apps and PWA’s are exempt).
dec10 is when all the sleeping dickheads find out that “Ban the children” comes with a gigantic stick marked “Prove you’re not one”
Honestly I think most people won’t care. They’ll more than happily upload their photo ID or share their face with AI data miners and continue using commercial social media. It’d be great if this does drum up a stink about how poorly thought-out the bill was, but I’m not expecting much.
I fully expect it to turn out like the pandemic part of Mythic Quest. You know, when all the parents suddenly had to deal with kids locked out of their babysitters and lost their shit
Yes, keep the Australian school children ostracized and disorganized ensuring they pay attention on their studies ensuring a steady flow of future musical talent ala AC⚡️DC Tame Impala and The Bee Gees
The fediverse is going to blow their mind
I hope they like beans, memes, and anarchy.
Let’s hope they receive an appropriate welcome.
Let’s hope they find out about it at all. Entrenched social media platforms deliberately discourage discussion of alternatives.
A broken clock is right twice a day.
and this is where kids will learn to computer. VPN yo?
