> I understand the concern, but is it that different from early 90s internet spread of drugs made of bananas or even before that urban legends? Well, yes. In t

> I understand the concern, but is it that different from early 90s internet spread of drugs made of bananas or even before that urban legends? Well, yes. In the 90s, the speed at which I could acquire stupid ideas from the internet was still VASTLY slower than today. First, I had to actually get home from school and sit in front of a computer because I didn't have an internet-connected device in my pocket at all times. This meant that I couldn't be absorbing nonsense during car rides or dinner time, either. Then, I had to make sure that my family members weren't using the telephone. And while there were lots of questionable forum-style websites, there wasn't like a single-digit number of hubs online where everyone got the same nonsense info at the same time, or where someone who produces said nonsense would know to go to maximize their reach. I would say that information moves much faster today than it has even when Facebook unseated MySpace (which was well after the 90s). > I know that it is easier to ban stuff than teach critical thinking skills, but I genuinely think the latter is preferable long term. Sure, and I didn't suggest otherwise. Education is the most important and resilient way to combat all kinds of terrible ideas. However, the concern I expressed in my comment was specifically about children. Children can't be educated almost by definition- it takes time to become educated and well-versed in basic logic and reasoning. I'm fortunate that my step-son found this information "interesting" enough to share with us so that I had the opportunity to explain to him that the vast majority of content being shared with him is from non-experts or people who are actively trying to manipulate people into agreeing with them on something. Did he take that to heart? Not really; because it happened multiple times and I had roughly the same conversation with him multiple times. He's not there yet in his education. And then there's the other issue of the adults that are consuming and spreading nonsense at record speed. And a lot of that nonsense is currently aiming to turn people AGAINST science and education. "Those damn academics are lying to us!", "Don't trust your kids around teachers- they're 'groomers'!", etc. I don't know what the answer is, but I don't feel good about the future for our kids.