So the ban of social media for children under 16 has got through parliament.
Iām all for it. And Australia is a pretty good country to start this given our nanny state status.
I know France has a ban already for under 15 but thats if no parental consent. I feel the most vulnerable children are likely going to be the ones where parents arenāt tightly regulating control over their childās viewing. So I hope we go a few steps further than France. If this control is set at app store level then IMO itās next to useless. We need to use something smarter.
dunnoā¦
im still mulling it overā¦whilst i agree that social media is a cunt of a space, part of me wonders if just delaying access to it means more niaviety when you cant physically protect them as well, also, at 16 its pretty critical time in both emotional and educational developmentā¦
not sureā¦i know my daughters experience on social media has made her more aware and has shaped herā¦
if we wrap them all in cotton wool, we risk them not developingā¦
the social media bullying is a massive issue, and vunerable kids being even just a bit emotionally compromised is a massive issueā¦not sure if turning the tap off until they are 16 is a good foundationā¦
I think Iāve seen a good argument that you canāt just snuff out spaces like these, you need to provide alternatives as well. And thatās one thing thatās lacking for me from what Iāve read about this.
Not necessarily completely sanitised online spaces as well, but ones which are healthier and less likely to breed such behaviour.
Proof will be in the pudding, I guess. Will be watching very keenly to see how this lands, in practice.
My nieces are Year 7 and 6, my best matesā kids the same, all back in Melbourneā¦will be very interested to hear their views on implementation in the coming years.
My own boys are 3 and 5ā¦their childhood outlook on the world is the most joyous thing in my life. Will protect that at all costs for as long as I can. Certainly wonāt deliver them to cunts like Musk and Zuckerberg (or whoever emerges in the next ten years) without an almighty fight.
I remember us being one of the late adopters in allowing our daughter to get a smartphone. All her friends had iPhones from a young age. It felt like we were pressured almost daily. If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase, āThis is worse than the Mormon kidsā Iād be a rich man.
She was 13 when she got an iPhone and looking back, Iād say it was mostly a bad thing.
I am thankful that more and more attention is being paid to the downside of social media. The 16 year old thing seems a positive attempt at curbing the downside. Iād like to think that future generations will be more savvy, but Iām not especially hopeful.
The history of mankind in a nutshell.
As my partner is Aussie from an Indian background, this is very interesting to me personally, but itās something that all Australians should be aware of.
āfootball manager/playerā
He must enjoy the (relative) anonymity.
Havenāt read the article but Australia should be making huge efforts to develop a deeper political and economic connection with India - there have significant shared cultural heritage and India is vital as a bulwark to China. Australia makes long term efforts across the Pacific that would pay dividends with India and certainly itās a better bet than China.
1, Read it.
2, Itās more to do with the Indian population in Australia, which is large and growing. People from the Sub-Continent have made a massive contribution to the country, but the importation of certain issues from home is raising questions for the host society.
Bigger and whiter than the Opera House.
Scary stuffā¦
Not yet.
More bad news for an Aussie icon 
Is chlamydia an Aussie icon?
Yep, we spread it on toast for kids in preperation of introducing them to vegemite
