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My kids thankfully are not into (and we don't allow) "social media" -- no Instagram, TikTok, etc. So they're not posting selfies and waiting for the Like count

My kids thankfully are not into (and we don't allow) "social media" -- no Instagram, TikTok, etc. So they're not posting selfies and waiting for the Like count to go up. But they do spend a ton of time in online chats (Discord, Google Hangouts/Meet/whatever). Only in groups with friends, never in public rooms with strangers. On the one hand, it is essential that they be allowed to participate in these chats, since that is how they kids are hanging out now. On the other hand, holy crap the new ways to bully and mean to each other!!

hackernewds 3y ago
They probably do. But you just don't know? There are a _lot_ of strange chatrooms with "strangers" on Discord, including a lot of porn on Discord for example.
- khazhoux 3y ago
  No, they’re definitely not chatting with strangers. They spend a lot of hours on chat (teen/preteen), and some parents might cut them off at night -- but we don't. We can clearly hear that they're talking with friends. So we let them burn the hours in chat because it's how they socialize... and as a side effect it doesn't leave any time left over for random stranger forums.
  - nixpulvis 3y ago
    Lol
    - khazhoux 3y ago
      Which part?
      - ukuina 3y ago
        The naivete? Unless you are randomly sampling their Discord membership, that is.
        khazhoux 3y ago
        It's conceivable that after spending hours every day hanging out in person after school and more hours in the evening on their (loud) group chats, that they secretly engage with randos on Discord. But it's not naive to believe that we've enabled a healthy social environment, warned about strangers/etc online, and (my wife) is incredibly communicative with them about their daily lives. I'm sure there's lots of other pitfalls they'll fall into despite our best efforts. But rando chats is unlikely to be the one. Hell, I wouldn't spend my own time arguing with strangers on HN if I had an active friend group like them!
- Culonavirus 3y ago
  Yeah, Discord doesn't have the greatest reputation. https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/discord-is-a-haven-for-gamers-and-sexual-exploiters/ https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/discord-is-a-have...

hackernewds 3y ago

They probably do. But you just don't know? There are a _lot_ of strange chatrooms with "strangers" on Discord, including a lot of porn on Discord for example.

khazhoux 3y ago
No, they’re definitely not chatting with strangers. They spend a lot of hours on chat (teen/preteen), and some parents might cut them off at night -- but we don't. We can clearly hear that they're talking with friends. So we let them burn the hours in chat because it's how they socialize... and as a side effect it doesn't leave any time left over for random stranger forums.
- nixpulvis 3y ago
  Lol
  - khazhoux 3y ago
    Which part?
    - ukuina 3y ago
      The naivete? Unless you are randomly sampling their Discord membership, that is.
      - khazhoux 3y ago
        It's conceivable that after spending hours every day hanging out in person after school and more hours in the evening on their (loud) group chats, that they secretly engage with randos on Discord. But it's not naive to believe that we've enabled a healthy social environment, warned about strangers/etc online, and (my wife) is incredibly communicative with them about their daily lives. I'm sure there's lots of other pitfalls they'll fall into despite our best efforts. But rando chats is unlikely to be the one. Hell, I wouldn't spend my own time arguing with strangers on HN if I had an active friend group like them!
Culonavirus 3y ago
Yeah, Discord doesn't have the greatest reputation. https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/discord-is-a-haven-for-gamers-and-sexual-exploiters/ https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/discord-is-a-have...