Social media ban, your thoughts

[newforest]

I do think it's a good idea, I never actually felt that a smart phone was aimed at children.

I think people are getting confused with what social media actually is and what it isn't. They are not saying they are banning children from using the internet.
They can still use that. They are referring to sites such as Facebook, You Tube (though there has always been a children's version) and sites I don't use / haven't heard of that are predominantly used by children.

How they will check accounts is interesting because currently my TV asks me if I am over 16, you simply say yes, no other checks!
They are talking about photo ID and this is already an option. It's called a citizen card to prove you are 16. I guess for jobs, college, bank accounts. I don't get the comments of this is the back door to digital ID, we already HAVE to prove things, these people will already have photo ID to do anything in the world these days.

 

[Jessey]

I’m so busy at the moment I’ve heard nothing about it, it’s also not relevant to me personally. I don’t see an issue with raising the age for social media, or making it more enforceable, I don’t know anyone that lets their kid on SM anyway, but am aware lots do.

 

[newforest]

Facebook has always been 13 but that's been easy to get around.
I find it shocking that song kids can doesn't right hours a day on social media. Surely they are school for most of the day!

 

[Trewsers]

I've heard about this but I don't know the details. I can see the enforcing it might be tricky unless facebook, insta etc rely on facial recognition. Kids are clever and its easy to get around security checks I am sure!
I don't have kids but I have mixed feelings on this. The internet is a great tool for everyone at some point whenever you need something or need to know / learn. I use it a lot.
But I have no idea how it affects kids? I know there's been some bad reports about kids being influenced in a bad way because of other kids and so-called influencers. Hmm. @newforest I think most kids tune into their iphones whenever they get chance, hence being on it so many hours in between school lessons etc.
So they would still be allowed to use email etc? And who knows - maybe forums will rig up again - I know they are not as popular as they were because of social media. That's the quicker option I think for kids. They can just go on insta and get a quick fix or twitter (x) etc. Whereas a forum requires a bit more effort.

 

[GaryB]

I saw a 14 year old claiming it was unfair and she only used it moderately. Her idea of moderate was 6.5 hours per day!

 

[newforest]

They will still be allowed to use the internet. It is only social media that they want to implement the ban.

 

[newforest]

I saw a 14 year old claiming it was unfair and she only used it moderately. Her idea of moderate was 6.5 hours per day!

And that's partly a parenting issue surely.
I also think if you are on your phone for those hours, how many hours are the adults on.
It won't surprise me to see advice for adults at some stage because it's addictive and fit the most part, the internet is unavoidable.
Companies have gone paperless and charge you to receive a bill, so I have had to download the app. Else it was an extra £36 on top.

Smart phones wont be taken away from children as they have their bus ticket on the thing these days.

Growing up I was allowed on the computer footy one hour a day to play games. Them it got switched off and I was expected to "go and play"

 

[Kite_Rider]

I honestly think it’s long overdue, let’s face it, SM is designed to keep you glued to your screen for as long as possible and that just isn’t healthy for anyone.
Was quite funny recently, I went by train to visit my daughter in Oxfordshire, the train was packed on the way back because of cancellations, lucky me got a seat next to a young chap and me being me started chatting, he actually said to me and I quote ‘ how refreshing to have a lovely conversation with someone who’s not glued to their phone, it’s been ages since I’ve properly chatted with someone’ and yes the rest of the train from young to pensioners were all head down buried in there phones, sad really that someone compliments a conversation as being refreshing. I’ve mostly taken myself off SM these days and very much limit my internet use, hence my very few interactions here. Now if someone want to organise a real life meet up I’m in .

 

[Trewsers]

In its favour the internet and social media like scrolling on insta has calmed and distracted me many times though - like if I'm waiting to see the dentist / doctor. I can't concentrate on anything in those situations and need something to stop my heart from either giving up altogether or me getting terribly nervous to the point of needing the bathroom (okay tmi there lol). But I appreciate this isn't the case with other people. I can only speak as I find and for someone who can be extremely nervous in certain situations its a life saver (well maybe not a lifesaver but it does help). I guess I would have had to flick through magazines back in the day before the internet was born. Appreciate this isn't the case for others - just my point of view on this. I don't know about kids - they probably are just addicted!

 

[newforest]

I wonder what will happen to the child influencers that the parents put out there. They won't have a target audience if nobody under 16 is going to be allowed to subscribe.
I have actually gone back to a camera because it means I am not even touching the phone, so therefore not tempted. I carry a book with me in case I get held up.

Some of the issue will be from Covid where everyone went online because you had no other option. Zoom became the new normal for meetings.

 

[Trewsers]

I wonder what will happen to the child influencers that the parents put out there. They won't have a target audience if nobody under 16 is going to be allowed to subscribe.
I have actually gone back to a camera because it means I am not even touching the phone, so therefore not tempted. I carry a book with me in case I get held up.

Some of the issue will be from Covid where everyone went online because you had no other option. Zoom became the new normal for meetings.

I'm glad that zoom can be used for meetings, else mr trews would have no job lol. (I know what you mean about covid it became the work from home thing but we had already started that when we moved up to Orkney).And to be honest, its good for certain health conversations and checkups. Mr T says he would rather zoom call than wait in a room full when he can have a one to one and med check over zoom.
As for books - I have my ipad and that has my Kindle on it and I never run out of reading material that way. Some of Mr T's hospital appointments can be all day, ie, he has to be there at 8am and can often not get seen until mid afternoon. It does help me lots having it with me.

I read about a child influencer on bbc news the other day. She was 13 and looked 16 lol with all the makeup and skincare products she was touting. I guess her parents could see an opening to make money, the kid had lots and lots of followers and was making plenty off adverts too.