4 ms·

6 years old and already having to navigate software, passwords, privacy. I am mildly shocked, and saddened. Or am I just behind the times?

f6v 5y ago
> 6 years old and already having to navigate software, passwords, privacy. If he’s in the US, he already needs to start saving for college.
Milner08 5y ago
Really? I was using the computer at 6, although basic stuff in DOS (I remember being proud I knew how to start games etc). At 6 you're in primary school in the UK and using a computer and internet safety is definitely a big thing. Not sure why you'd be saddened by this? Its not like its a black and white you either play outside or you use the computer thing. People can do both and learning about technology early is a good thing.
- IndySun 5y ago
  >Not sure why you'd be saddened by this? I did all that too. I concur with your overview. I don't see the world as black and white either. We know that children are more easily exploited, no matter how tech savvy, but it's not so much the 6 year old age that hit me reading that; it's the fact the having an offline private life is being eroded, and I'm not sure about what is replacing it.
- IndySun 5y ago
  This recent article appeared on YC, it expands on the sleepwalking folly of digital ids and passwords. https://www.aclu.org/report/identity-crisis-what-digital-drivers-licenses-could-mean-privacy-equity-and-freedom https://www.aclu.org/report/identity-crisis-what-digital-dri...
jandrese 5y ago
Malware bots on the Internet don't care how old you are. If the kids are on there (all of their friends already play Roblox and talk about it incessantly) then they need to have the same level of password security and care with personal data than an adult does. The last thing a 6 year old needs is some asshole opening a dozen credit cards in their name and maxing them out on cash advances to buy Bitcoin.

f6v 5y ago

> 6 years old and already having to navigate software, passwords, privacy. If he’s in the US, he already needs to start saving for college.

Milner08 5y ago

Really? I was using the computer at 6, although basic stuff in DOS (I remember being proud I knew how to start games etc). At 6 you're in primary school in the UK and using a computer and internet safety is definitely a big thing. Not sure why you'd be saddened by this? Its not like its a black and white you either play outside or you use the computer thing. People can do both and learning about technology early is a good thing.

IndySun 5y ago
>Not sure why you'd be saddened by this? I did all that too. I concur with your overview. I don't see the world as black and white either. We know that children are more easily exploited, no matter how tech savvy, but it's not so much the 6 year old age that hit me reading that; it's the fact the having an offline private life is being eroded, and I'm not sure about what is replacing it.
IndySun 5y ago
This recent article appeared on YC, it expands on the sleepwalking folly of digital ids and passwords. https://www.aclu.org/report/identity-crisis-what-digital-drivers-licenses-could-mean-privacy-equity-and-freedom https://www.aclu.org/report/identity-crisis-what-digital-dri...

jandrese 5y ago

Malware bots on the Internet don't care how old you are. If the kids are on there (all of their friends already play Roblox and talk about it incessantly) then they need to have the same level of password security and care with personal data than an adult does. The last thing a 6 year old needs is some asshole opening a dozen credit cards in their name and maxing them out on cash advances to buy Bitcoin.