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I think it's unfair that under 13s aren't allowed to use Gmail. But being able to use email, code in Python and use Powerpoint, doesn't mean he has the maturity

by ern 15y ago

I think it's unfair that under 13s aren't allowed to use Gmail. But being able to use email, code in Python and use Powerpoint, doesn't mean he has the maturity to use social networking. The internet is a cruel place, and hysteria about online predators aside, I think that the biggest risk to kids is from their own peer group. I recently encountered a fake profile on FB that was harassing high school kids, including a cousin, by spreading rumours about them. The rumours seemed silly to an adult, but the reactions of the victims on the perpetrator's wall were telling: begging, swearing, threatening (incidentally, Facebook's abuse system was pretty useless, I got the account killed because I figured out who the bully probably was, and dropped a few not-so-subtle-hints threatening to expose her). If teenagers are so distressed by online bullying, it would be worse for pre-teens. I have sympathy for Alex and his parents, but I don't blame the law for blocking young children from accessing these services, especially social networking sites.

vermontdevil 15y ago
I disagree with you. I do not believe government regulations in these areas work. 13 is an arbitrary age. Bully happens even after age of 13. It should be up to the parents to monitor and regulate their kids' internet access. Parents not government has the responsibility of their children's welfare. Some kids can be a bit more mature at a younger age, some don't. Like many prohibition laws, this one won't work.
chunky1994 15y ago
I agree completely, as a teenager myself despite wanting to stay away from such petty, defaming conversations, you eventually get hauled in, either because one of your friends starts believing them in which case you're social life is at stake, or because any new acquaintances will be sorely misled by those comments.
mambodog 15y ago
The issue is not with blocking access to Google+, it is with the (impending) deletion of his ~2 years worth of emails. I don't believe you need to be 13 years old to use email, I know I was using it at around Alex's age.
- chunky1994 15y ago
  True, however, I think google can't do anything about it because of its TOS.

by ern 15y ago

vermontdevil 15y ago

I disagree with you. I do not believe government regulations in these areas work. 13 is an arbitrary age. Bully happens even after age of 13. It should be up to the parents to monitor and regulate their kids' internet access. Parents not government has the responsibility of their children's welfare. Some kids can be a bit more mature at a younger age, some don't. Like many prohibition laws, this one won't work.

chunky1994 15y ago

I agree completely, as a teenager myself despite wanting to stay away from such petty, defaming conversations, you eventually get hauled in, either because one of your friends starts believing them in which case you're social life is at stake, or because any new acquaintances will be sorely misled by those comments.

mambodog 15y ago

The issue is not with blocking access to Google+, it is with the (impending) deletion of his ~2 years worth of emails. I don't believe you need to be 13 years old to use email, I know I was using it at around Alex's age.

chunky1994 15y ago
True, however, I think google can't do anything about it because of its TOS.