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I used to run a parental controls startup and after talking to lots of parents, I can tell you this sentiment is shared among most parents. Parents on both side

I used to run a parental controls startup and after talking to lots of parents, I can tell you this sentiment is shared among most parents. Parents on both sides of the isle think they're going to keep their teenagers off the internet forever, I had parents look me straight in the face and say their child wouldn't be allowed online until she was 16. Parents aren't interested in the nuance of good and bad guys, they see the internet, think it's too much trouble to keep around, and want it blocked. I suspect politicians are just mimicking this sentiment after talking to thousands of parents

fsniper 2mo ago
Perhaps they shouldn't be allowed to school until 16? School and other kids can expose theirs to many detrimental things.
JoshTriplett 2mo ago
Any advice on how to dismantle and counter such arguments, individually and at scale?
- guywithahat 2mo ago
  Unfortunately we couldn't figure it out before going out of business. Certainly parents didn't respond to saying things like "that's impossible, of course she'll get online before then" or pointing out obvious facts like "is your separated ex-wife also in on this plan"? I do think the fear is logical and makes sense, but it was hard to logically deconstruct the fear into purchasing our service.
insane_dreamer 2mo ago
> they see the internet, it's too much trouble to keep around, and want it blocked I can sympathize with this sentiment in my work and life and personal life the internet is very useful, but as a parent of children and young teens, the internet is really just a PITA that I wish would go away along with all of the games, social media sites, and everything that I have to expend so much energy educating / arguing / instructing / fighting / blocking with my kids about. It's exhausting because it's everywhere pushing at them from every direction. It's like trying to teach your kids the hazards of cigarettes or vaping to your kids while cool cig pushers are standing in their bedroom talking to them and waiting for them every time they walk out the door. So yeah, expect exhausted parents who never asked for the deluge of slop, to be supportive of bills -- as ill-conceived or intentioned as they may be -- that provide relief. And lest you say, "oh but it's always been that way, before this it was the early internet, and video games, and cigarettes". I grew up through all of that, and I can tell you it is not at all the same today. The ubiquitousness of it is what makes all the difference.

fsniper 2mo ago

Perhaps they shouldn't be allowed to school until 16? School and other kids can expose theirs to many detrimental things.

JoshTriplett 2mo ago

Any advice on how to dismantle and counter such arguments, individually and at scale?

guywithahat 2mo ago
Unfortunately we couldn't figure it out before going out of business. Certainly parents didn't respond to saying things like "that's impossible, of course she'll get online before then" or pointing out obvious facts like "is your separated ex-wife also in on this plan"? I do think the fear is logical and makes sense, but it was hard to logically deconstruct the fear into purchasing our service.

insane_dreamer 2mo ago

> they see the internet, it's too much trouble to keep around, and want it blocked I can sympathize with this sentiment in my work and life and personal life the internet is very useful, but as a parent of children and young teens, the internet is really just a PITA that I wish would go away along with all of the games, social media sites, and everything that I have to expend so much energy educating / arguing / instructing / fighting / blocking with my kids about. It's exhausting because it's everywhere pushing at them from every direction. It's like trying to teach your kids the hazards of cigarettes or vaping to your kids while cool cig pushers are standing in their bedroom talking to them and waiting for them every time they walk out the door. So yeah, expect exhausted parents who never asked for the deluge of slop, to be supportive of bills -- as ill-conceived or intentioned as they may be -- that provide relief. And lest you say, "oh but it's always been that way, before this it was the early internet, and video games, and cigarettes". I grew up through all of that, and I can tell you it is not at all the same today. The ubiquitousness of it is what makes all the difference.