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Children literally don't have the developed cognitive capabilities to critically think, nor should they be making their own decisions every time. This is an abs

Children literally don't have the developed cognitive capabilities to critically think, nor should they be making their own decisions every time. This is an absolutely inane suggestion. I don't know when it started happening, but why do we continue to let these companies off the hook for their absolutely terrible externalities? Banning these topics if your platform allows children, preteens, etc is absolutely an effective solution if said companies refuse to rectify the problem. Why should society bare the costs because a company wants to make money at the costs of a child's mental health? How is that just or even fair? Have we truly devolved into a new feudal age where no company can do wrong and we simply have to blame ourselves for their faults? These apps are designed to be psychologically addictive and fuel outrage/fear to drive advertising revenues... why is this acceptable? Why are we blaming parents and not the executives who signed off on these decisions?

qzx_pierri 4y ago
> Children literally don't have the developed cognitive capabilities to critically think, nor should they be making their own decisions every time [citation needed] Also, since children don't have the cognitive abilities to critically think, maybe some responsibility should fall onto the parent? You can deflect blame all you want and call for TikTok to go around swinging their banhammer, but your "think of the children" alarmism is short sighted. It's impossible for TikTok to blanket ban an entire topic without causing major damage in the process. I won't move into "mind reading" territory, but I suspect people who are so trigger happy to ban things online to "protect children" have a guilty conscience due to the lack of effort they put into their own child's development. The internet boogeyman can only influence your child so much... Raise your kids, people!
oldsklgdfth 4y ago
I feel like this falls on parents, once again. What is a valid use-case that a child/teenager requires a phone? I would argue that don't need unrestricted internet access too, but education has largely moved online.
- watwut 4y ago
  Phone is literally only way how they can organize social life. Houses don't have landlines anymore. Teenager without phone means no socialization outside organized activities.
  - oldsklgdfth 4y ago
    > no socialization outside organized activities The point of those is to restrict influence and keep an eye on things. Also, why can you socialize with the neighbors. Parents used to be super comfortable with "tommy is coming over for dinner or spending that night" Is that still the case? I don't have any anecdotes on this.
    - watwut 4y ago
      That assumes there kids of the same age in neighborhood with similar lifestyle. Which is quite a lot to ask these days. There are less kids overall. Kids today have more activities, so you won't meet them just by randomly going outside. They do a lot more activities at home on computer, again you won't meet them randomly outside. Parents are not even allowed to let their 6-7 years old outside alone, meaning they would had to be with them. Meaning kids won't get habit to he outside nor will find friends outside, even if some kids are around. And if those other teenagers have phones, they expect you to organize it all by phone. They have own friends they socialize with and coordinate via phones. It is rude to just show up without calling first and you need phone to be reachable by other in the first place. And other kids will not call on parents home. They are shy or scared. When kids went to Timmy, pwople assumed landlines. Before landlines, it was accepted to just show up. Today, expectation is phone.

qzx_pierri 4y ago

> Children literally don't have the developed cognitive capabilities to critically think, nor should they be making their own decisions every time [citation needed] Also, since children don't have the cognitive abilities to critically think, maybe some responsibility should fall onto the parent? You can deflect blame all you want and call for TikTok to go around swinging their banhammer, but your "think of the children" alarmism is short sighted. It's impossible for TikTok to blanket ban an entire topic without causing major damage in the process. I won't move into "mind reading" territory, but I suspect people who are so trigger happy to ban things online to "protect children" have a guilty conscience due to the lack of effort they put into their own child's development. The internet boogeyman can only influence your child so much... Raise your kids, people!

oldsklgdfth 4y ago

I feel like this falls on parents, once again. What is a valid use-case that a child/teenager requires a phone? I would argue that don't need unrestricted internet access too, but education has largely moved online.

watwut 4y ago
Phone is literally only way how they can organize social life. Houses don't have landlines anymore. Teenager without phone means no socialization outside organized activities.
- oldsklgdfth 4y ago
  > no socialization outside organized activities The point of those is to restrict influence and keep an eye on things. Also, why can you socialize with the neighbors. Parents used to be super comfortable with "tommy is coming over for dinner or spending that night" Is that still the case? I don't have any anecdotes on this.
  - watwut 4y ago
    That assumes there kids of the same age in neighborhood with similar lifestyle. Which is quite a lot to ask these days. There are less kids overall. Kids today have more activities, so you won't meet them just by randomly going outside. They do a lot more activities at home on computer, again you won't meet them randomly outside. Parents are not even allowed to let their 6-7 years old outside alone, meaning they would had to be with them. Meaning kids won't get habit to he outside nor will find friends outside, even if some kids are around. And if those other teenagers have phones, they expect you to organize it all by phone. They have own friends they socialize with and coordinate via phones. It is rude to just show up without calling first and you need phone to be reachable by other in the first place. And other kids will not call on parents home. They are shy or scared. When kids went to Timmy, pwople assumed landlines. Before landlines, it was accepted to just show up. Today, expectation is phone.