this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2024
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Summary

A YouGov poll revealed that 77% of Germans support banning social media for those under 16, similar to a new Australian law.

The survey found that 82% believe social media harms young people, citing harmful content and addiction.

In Australia, the law fines platforms up to AUD 49.5 million (€30.5M) for allowing under-16s to create accounts, with enforcement trials set before implementation next year. Critics

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[–] Not_mikey@slrpnk.net 25 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean science does show this generation has very high incidence of anxiety, depression, suicide etc. Not saying social media is all of it, but it's probably a very big cause.

[–] troed@fedia.io -1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

"Probably"

This is your definition of scientific?

Thanks for proving my point.

great account to follow regarding the science on the subject: https://ohai.social/@Garwboy/113554246823274751

[–] MacAnus@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Let's remember the ban in Australia concerns platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X. Exemptions will apply to services such as YouTube, messenger kids, whatsapp, kids helpline and google classroom.

The account you provided starts by stating that "the most rigorous analysis" found little/no significant evidence , but fails to link to them. He immediately lumps together smartphone and social media, then goes on justifying the importance of both with arguments that clearly concern almost exclusively smartphones.

This ban is about social media, not smartphones altogether.

Garwboy's arguments:

  • they let kids stay connected with friends, foster a community, allow coordination of activities: he's talking about smartphones.

  • they allow access to school work, references, important resources: again, smartphones/the internet

  • they allow access to support, help and guidance from experienced and informed individuals and groups: this point I'll give to him; as for years, Reddit has served that very purpose for me. Who knows what that site has become though.

  • he compares them to roads (roads kill children every year, but they save many lives, make the world go round,...): again this whole comparison is only valid for smartphones.

  • they are a refuge for children who experience abuse at home: this is probably true, but it is not an argument about how social media helps in these situations. I could say the same about drugs .

Which brings us to my point of view: social media are, for many, a drug. A bit of it can be good, fun and even sometimes make your like better, but we have to acknowledge the negative side, which in my opinion can have devastating effects in a person's mental, especially when the mental is still in its forming stage.

[–] troed@fedia.io -5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

but we have to acknowledge the negative side, which in my opinion [...]

I don't do opinions. Burnett (a neuroscientist) has linked many sources - maybe you just need to read a bit more.

Additionally, your claims about what's "smartphones" and what's "social media" are strange - my kids use Snapchat to communicate. Do you think they use SMS?? How old are your kids?

[–] MacAnus@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Look it's my opinion from personal experience, just disregard it if it bothers you.

I read the whole series of posts but didn't see them, I guess I needed to search some more - my bad.

I'm not saying social media doesn't let you do all those things, I'm saying you don't need it to do them.

I don't have kids and never used Snapchat, but what does Snapchat provide that helps them communicate better than let's say WhatsApp?

Edit: I went to dig on Burnett's page for the links you tell me about. All I found was a radio interview of a doctor on radio Boston, an article from the Sunday times about Burnett's book and an article on Wales online, also about the book.

Could you link me to the relevant articles I must have missed?

Edit 2: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7364393/ Found this article that combines different studies made on the subject. Around halfway through the page you will find the results of some of these studies and you will see the answer isn't clear.

[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com -1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yeah the level of scientific illiteracy in favor of self-righteous yammering was actually surprising for me to find on Lemmy. Who all upvoted that "probably" comment? smh.