If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy.
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@geomannie As regards point 2.
Blocking adverts is one thing and currently easy to achive.
The subtle problem that would have to be addressed is the use of "sponsorship" in media.
There is, for example "sponsor block" which can be used in browsers and programs like FreeTube but it does not work 100%.
Nor can it filter out undeclared sponsorship where the "influencer" fails to state their financial relationship with the manufacturer/service provider.
@the_wub Good point, but without algorithmic feed a person would be far less likely to find these sponsored channels unless they specifically looked for them. Likely the sponsers might give up for lack of traffic watching their videos.
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
One of the issues in my area is that there is increasingly nothing else for kids to do. Youth centres are run on a shoestring or closed down entirely, parks react to groups of loitering kids as if they're criminals, and malls don't want them there unless they're going to buy something.
I suspect that a certain amount of why kids use social media is that it's a refuge: there is nowhere else for them to go to socialise with people their own age.
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
@geomannie even easier, hold SM accountable, but the they whine to trumpty dumpty about freeze peech, because accountability costs them money.
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
@geomannie there are probably several decent solutions, but all of them involve regulating the platforms, not regulating the children.
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
@geomannie Ban the over 45s (I speak as a late fifties person) from the platforms they have identified. We’re the ones being over-influenced by the algorithms and the advertisers will need to find somewhere else to hawk their shite as I imagine that demographic has more disposable income (remember that from the olden days) than others.
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
@geomannie Saw this prior to seeing your post, and thought it was the best idea; this would scare the living daylights out of them, they'd clean things up in a flash...
https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4ap35rus77cg3lzju2v43jxn/post/3mofeynj64c23
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@geomannie Saw this prior to seeing your post, and thought it was the best idea; this would scare the living daylights out of them, they'd clean things up in a flash...
https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4ap35rus77cg3lzju2v43jxn/post/3mofeynj64c23
@chiefoldmist 100% for the idea that
""Any platform that uses an algorithm more complex than ‘people you follow in chronological order’ to be treated as a publisher, and held to account for content."
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@geomannie Ban the over 45s (I speak as a late fifties person) from the platforms they have identified. We’re the ones being over-influenced by the algorithms and the advertisers will need to find somewhere else to hawk their shite as I imagine that demographic has more disposable income (remember that from the olden days) than others.
@spanghero
Truth is that we are all influenced by social media. -
If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
@geomannie my grand daughters and friends are there mostly for each others likes. They also appreciate makeup tutorials and music! They let me see what they can see. Any random people eg strange men are told to foff!
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@spanghero
Truth is that we are all influenced by social media.@geomannie Indeed. I was being flippant because the reality is the use of an algorithm makes the SM companies media providers as they are curating content (however crassly) and should therefore come under those rules and subject to licensing.
And the rules around media should also be tightened looking at the output of traditional media.
Of course none of this will happen because the UK (and other) Governments are frightened of the owners. -
One of the issues in my area is that there is increasingly nothing else for kids to do. Youth centres are run on a shoestring or closed down entirely, parks react to groups of loitering kids as if they're criminals, and malls don't want them there unless they're going to buy something.
I suspect that a certain amount of why kids use social media is that it's a refuge: there is nowhere else for them to go to socialise with people their own age.
@passenger @geomannie agreed! Kids don't even want to be in front of a screen that long. Instead of banning stuff, introduce libraries and parks and cheap movie theatres for teens.
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
The role of government is to protect Capital and insure profits for the ruling class are undisturbed - not the people.
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
Given that would mostly affect US companies, in the current climate that would be seen by the US administration as an attack on US companies, and invite retaliation. I don't think the UK government would stand up and resist; they'd just fold.
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One of the issues in my area is that there is increasingly nothing else for kids to do. Youth centres are run on a shoestring or closed down entirely, parks react to groups of loitering kids as if they're criminals, and malls don't want them there unless they're going to buy something.
I suspect that a certain amount of why kids use social media is that it's a refuge: there is nowhere else for them to go to socialise with people their own age.
We used to play in the street (a cul-de-sac) with the other kids who lived in the road. There would maybe be one or two parked cars, and the only coming and going would be residents. Mum still lives there, and the road is rammed with parked cars, even with most houses keeping at least one on the drive. And with delivery vans up and down, there's no way I'd be happy to let a kid play out there now.
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Given that would mostly affect US companies, in the current climate that would be seen by the US administration as an attack on US companies, and invite retaliation. I don't think the UK government would stand up and resist; they'd just fold.
Yes, same goes for US cloud platforms and mobile and desktop OSs.
Adopting US Big Tech is no different in 2026 to hosting a US military base,
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If the government really wanted to get kids off #socialmedia it's pretty easy. Rather than ban the <16's I would :
1. ban algorithmic feeds on social media
2. ban advertising on social media.Bit like #Mastodon really. Social interaction is ready and waiting for everyone but you have to work at it a bit.
IMHO most kids would likely give up and go do something else.
@geomannie
You're likely right. There's a *lot* of over 40s on here and very few 20-somethings even. I've been on here 9 years and I don't think I've seen more than a few teens. -
J jwcph@helvede.net shared this topic
