In an open letter to the prime minister, Labour MPs said “successive governments” had done “too little to protect young people from… unregulated, addictive social media platforms”.
They are focusing on the wrong thing. The problem is not young people access it, it the unregulated and addictive parts. Those affect everyone not just the young. Regulate the addictive behaviours of these platforms and protect everyone. Don’t just force ages ineffective age verification that harms the privacy of everyone.
It’s not about protecting the young. It’s a method of censorship and tying your social media account with your real identity.
I’ll simply not use social media that requires my real identity.
It’s not like they can regulate them all, and as soon as they try to restrict the more aggregator-y ones like Reddit and Lemmy, other niche ones will pop up.
The government doesn’t win this one.
They ask. But will only give a shit about comments they personally benefit from.
IE ones that do not limit the billionaire owners bribing them.
Originally I thought this was a good idea, but I’ve changed my mind.
Why are they not going after the tech bro social media companies spewing their shit?
Billionaires eh…
Raising the current 13+ to 16+ would be fine. What I worry about is how they will enforce it.
Here is a link to the actual consultation if anyone wants to get there quickly.
Some really wacky ideas in there. Having completed it, it is almost like they were skewing the arguments in the “against” camp to be really really stupid sounding.
Also bungs young adults in with kids and asks you questions as if you’re a 12 year old (i did the 3rd option)
Very long form to fill in, but I completed it.
