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I hope so... On one hand I think what Florida did banning social media for kids is a great idea, on another hand I wish it didn't have to come with government

by burcs 3y ago

I hope so... On one hand I think what Florida did banning social media for kids is a great idea, on another hand I wish it didn't have to come with government overreach and parents could be responsible enough with their kids. I really feel for these younger generations.

jimmygrapes 3y ago
One thing I'm really interested in is if/how a generation "banned" from anything finds a way to circumvent and/or improve upon things.
- add-sub-mul-div 3y ago
  Of course many will, and they'll have a head start in life being internet literate relative to those who don't find a way to get online, and the latter will also have to figure everything out abruptly when they hit a certain age. It's as stupid as trying to legislate that kissing can't happen until 18. It's not practically enforceable and trying creates unintended consequences.
  - boplicity 3y ago
    > trying creates unintended consequences. Not trying creates the unintended consequences of a double suicide rate. Maybe it's worth trading one set of unintended consequences for another.
    - Spivak 3y ago
      Double the suicide rate compared to what? Look, I'm not saying social media isn't bad for you, just look at what HN has done to all of us, but in what universe is it possible to create an even vaguely controlled study on this? You can't measure across time, you can't measure across cultures, the confounding variables would ruin your results. And suicide is rare enough that you can't manufacture a control group on teens you get to not use social media. I've searched around and can't find the numbers that you're referencing. I can't even find a study that confidently asserts even correlation. It's just "the suicide rate went up in 2010's and we think it might be social media?" So to not only say that this is the problem but also this is the magnitude of it implies a level of confidence that is simply not supported by the data.
  - dudul 3y ago
    They'll have no advantage. Kids who start using a phone when they are 6 have no curiosity for it. It's always been there, so what? On the contrary, they'll be the one who don't understand that what's put online for 5min is literally there forever.

by burcs 3y ago

jimmygrapes 3y ago

One thing I'm really interested in is if/how a generation "banned" from anything finds a way to circumvent and/or improve upon things.

add-sub-mul-div 3y ago
Of course many will, and they'll have a head start in life being internet literate relative to those who don't find a way to get online, and the latter will also have to figure everything out abruptly when they hit a certain age. It's as stupid as trying to legislate that kissing can't happen until 18. It's not practically enforceable and trying creates unintended consequences.
- boplicity 3y ago
  > trying creates unintended consequences. Not trying creates the unintended consequences of a double suicide rate. Maybe it's worth trading one set of unintended consequences for another.
  - Spivak 3y ago
    Double the suicide rate compared to what? Look, I'm not saying social media isn't bad for you, just look at what HN has done to all of us, but in what universe is it possible to create an even vaguely controlled study on this? You can't measure across time, you can't measure across cultures, the confounding variables would ruin your results. And suicide is rare enough that you can't manufacture a control group on teens you get to not use social media. I've searched around and can't find the numbers that you're referencing. I can't even find a study that confidently asserts even correlation. It's just "the suicide rate went up in 2010's and we think it might be social media?" So to not only say that this is the problem but also this is the magnitude of it implies a level of confidence that is simply not supported by the data.
- dudul 3y ago
  They'll have no advantage. Kids who start using a phone when they are 6 have no curiosity for it. It's always been there, so what? On the contrary, they'll be the one who don't understand that what's put online for 5min is literally there forever.