Support NeoGAF

[nkarafo]

Here's my stupid take.

When you are willingly use social media you kind of giving up a lot of information and privacy anyway. Even if you use each platform's privacy tools to limit what other users can see, you still giving everything to Facebook, Instagram, Tweeter, whatever. You are also not supposed to use fake accounts, which is another problem with social media. IMO, these platforms are not supposed to be anonymous. I mean it's right there in the name. Social. You use them to socialize, not hide and lurk.

So i agree. Give up your id and all the extra information while you are at it. This will solve a lot of issues with these platforms. Not only it will stop kids from using them, but also adult trolls.

It's not like anyone is forcing you to use them. Personally, i stay away from social media anyway, i always believed they are the scourge that ruined the internet. They might as well all have their servers burn in fire for all i care. The only one i use is Facebook's messenger only because that's what all my friends use to hang out. If i want to post opinions for people to see i just use the good old forums.

As for things like Tik-Tok, this one needs be banned altogether. Yeah, i know "people should have the right to use whatever they want for entertainment, no matter how stupid you think it is" and all that jazz but i don't care anymore. Logic and fairness should not apply to things like Tik-Tok. It's simply something that hurts humanity and it should not exist.

 

[Jinxed]

Once again people rooting for a nanny state because they just cant do it themselves with their kids

 

[daffyduck]

Here's my stupid take.

When you are willingly use social media you kind of giving up a lot of information and privacy anyway. Even if you use each platform's privacy tools to limit what other users can see, you still giving everything to Facebook, Instagram, Tweeter, whatever. You are also not supposed to use fake accounts, which is another problem with social media. IMO, these platforms are not supposed to be anonymous. I mean it's right there in the name. Social. You use them to socialize, not hide and lurk.

So i agree. Give up your id and all the extra information while you are at it. This will solve a lot of issues with these platforms. Not only it will stop kids from using them, but also adult trolls.

It's not like anyone is forcing you to use them. Personally, i stay away from social media anyway, i always believed they are the scourge that ruined the internet. They might as well all have their servers burn in fire for all i care. The only one i use is Facebook's messenger only because that's what all my friends use to hang out. If i want to post opinions for people to see i just use the good old forums.

..,

Some companies and orgs will use Facebook, and only Facebook for posting notices etc.

Facebook requires a log in to read some comments, all comments, or even the posts themselves, depending on what they feel like that day.

They do not need Driver’s licence, banking info etc just to read posts from a Company or organization.

 

[Trelane]

The legality of VPN was and always is in the air. You can get banned on Steam for using a VPN to access lower region prices of a game for example. There are other cases as well.

I think you are misunderstanding what I’m trying to say. Steam banning a user for trying to get a lower price via VPN is not the same as a government judicial system fining and/or sentencing someone to a prison for it.

 

[The Cockatrice]

I think you are misunderstanding what I’m trying to say. Steam banning a user for trying to get a lower price via VPN is not the same as a government judicial system fining and/or sentencing someone to a prison for it.

Same thing can be easily said about piracy. You wont go to jail for it. It also has its legal uses as well, for example, things that are impossible to get in specific countries, or products no longer available at all, among many other things. For example theres no legal way to buy and play No One Lives Forever and many other games.

 

[Trelane]

Same thing can be easily said about piracy. You wont go to jail for it. It also has its legal uses as well, for example, things that are impossible to get in specific countries, or products no longer available at all, among many other things. For example theres no legal way to buy and play No One Lives Forever and many other games.

You can be fined for piracy. Individuals who have illegally downloaded music have been punished with fines via court rulings.

Laws enforced by the government are very different than policies regarding an EULA or private policies of a company.

VPNs are not illegal, are used extensively by private individuals, companies, and government agencies all around the world. VPNs allow individuals to work remotely while connected to their company’s internal network. VPNs are not an illegal technology.

 

[The Cockatrice]

You can be fined for piracy. Individuals who have illegally downloaded music have been punished with fines via court rulings.

Laws enforced by the government are very different than policies regarding an EULA or private policies of a company.

VPNs are not illegal, are used extensively by private individuals, companies, and government agencies all around the world. VPNs allow individuals to work remotely while connected to their company’s internal network. VPNs are not an illegal technology.

And you can get killed for using VPN in certain countries lmao and thats a fact. Once corporations around the world start losing money over VPN's which will eventually happen, they'll become illegal as well. Just a matter of time. There is no law protecting VPN's, and their legality was always up for debate but allowed. I've given you facts and examples, you're just too stuck up on VPN's for some reason.

 

[TGO]

Funny I always thought this was the case when they first launched....how wrong was I

 

[Trelane]

And you can get killed for using VPN in certain countries lmao and thats a fact. Once corporations around the world start losing money over VPN's which will eventually happen, they'll become illegal as well. Just a matter of time. There is no law protecting VPN's, and their legality was always up for debate but allowed. I've given you facts and examples, you're just too stuck up on VPN's for some reason.

I’m just trying to figure out why you think VPNs are illegal in Australia, the whole point of the topic.

Also, did you have a source for the claim that someone was killed for using a VPN?

 

[The Cockatrice]

why you think VPNs are illegal in Australia,

I never said that. I was merely stating a fact that they're not fully legal. They never will be and may actually get worse with time, since governments and companies will want more control over consumers.

Also, did you have a source for the claim that someone was killed for using a VPN?

Well it's illegal in NK so you can imagine what happens to someone using it there for starters.

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

Put them in a shark cage if they don't comply.

 

[Trelane]

I never said that. I was merely stating a fact that they're not fully legal. They never will be and may actually get worse with time, since governments and companies will want more control over consumers.



Well it's illegal in NK so you can imagine what happens to someone using it there for starters.

If you would like a source, Forbes online has a good article about the legality of VPNs:

Are VPNs Legal? The Worldwide Guide

As people seek to protect their online privacy and access content, virtual private networks (VPNs) have become increasingly popular. While the technology is legal in many countries, some have restricted or banned them. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the legality of VPNs worldwide, in

www.forbes.com

The only countries that outright ban VPN through government legislation are Belarus, Iraq, North Korea, and Turkmenistan. China, Egypt, Oman, Russia, Turkey, and the UEA allow restricted access to approved VPNs.

I have found absolutely no reports or information regarding anyone being killed for using a VPN. Reporting that VPNs are widely illegal throughout the world and can result in the death penalty is disinformation. I hope you understand that my complaint is the spreading of unverified speculation as fact, not personal, which is why I have continued to argue the point.

Now, that is all I’m going to say on the matter as I’m afraid that my point of opinion in my original post has caused the topic to veer off of the initial purpose as to the topic of government regulation concerning social media. I apologize to Spyxos for the unintended thread derailment.

 

[The Cockatrice]

If you would like a source, Forbes online has a good article about the legality of VPNs:

Are VPNs Legal? The Worldwide Guide

As people seek to protect their online privacy and access content, virtual private networks (VPNs) have become increasingly popular. While the technology is legal in many countries, some have restricted or banned them. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the legality of VPNs worldwide, in

www.forbes.com

The only countries that outright ban VPN through government legislation are Belarus, Iraq, North Korea, and Turkmenistan. China, Egypt, Oman, Russia, Turkey, and the UEA allow restricted access to approved VPNs.

I have found absolutely no reports or information regarding anyone being killed for using a VPN. Reporting that VPNs are widely illegal throughout the world and can result in the death penalty is disinformation. I hope you understand that my complaint is the spreading of unverified speculation as fact, not personal, which is why I have continued to argue the point.

Now, that is all I’m going to say on the matter as I’m afraid that my point of opinion in my original post has caused the topic to veer off of the initial purpose as to the topic of government regulation concerning social media. I apologize to Spyxos for the unintended thread derailment.

Your source states exactly what I stated:

The legality of VPNs has sparked much debate as concerns over online privacy and government surveillance have continued to grow. While the answer seems straightforward in some locations, the truth is that it’s a complex and nuanced issue that varies per country.

It's not fully legal as in, eating an apple. It's more like owning/using a gun.

I have found absolutely no reports or information regarding anyone being killed for using a VPN

You never will. Those countries don't exactly share this kind of information lmao. It's just common sense what would happen to said people.

 

[BigDeadFreak]

 

[NecrosaroIII]

Did this ban go through?

 

[Hookshot]

Edit- I misinterpreted a post

 

[rkofan87]

i hate australia for the woke shit they but this is a good move.

 

[AJUMP23]

Be a responsible adult and parent and don’t allow the government to nanny you.


My kids do not have social media. They are 14 and 10.

 

[Deleted member 1159]

Be a responsible adult and parent and don’t allow the government to nanny you.


My kids do not have social media. They are 14 and 10.

Sure let’s sell booze and cigarettes to kids too and let the parents figure it out.

Apologies for the snark but we age restrict numerous products. That’s not nanny state-ing

 

[NecrosaroIII]

i hate australia for the woke shit they but this is a good move.

I'm okay with getting rid of traffic laws too

 

[AJUMP23]

Sure let’s sell booze and cigarettes to kids too and let the parents figure it out.

Apologies for the snark but we age restrict numerous products. That’s not nanny state-ing

They already have age restrictions.

 

[Trilobit]

Children can survive without social media as many generations have done before them. It might even force them to be more social irl. But I don't know if a complete ban is the way to go, perhaps just a limit to the time they spend. But I guess it's very difficult to control that. *puts on tinfoil hat* It almost feels like they're doing this to force adults to register their accounts to their phonenumber or ID so that they can be controlled more easily if they write wrongthink online during the next pandemic or social unrest.

 

[Deleted member 1159]

They already have age restrictions.

So what, in principle, is wrong with compelling tech companies to enforce them the same way we compel a 7-11 to not sell cigarettes to a 14 year old?

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

Be a responsible adult and parent and don’t allow the government to nanny you.


My kids do not have social media. They are 14 and 10.

I'm more worried about the private chat tools kids have these days. Snapchat encryption for example. Cliques and bullying and hacked account sharing, danger.

 

[ResurrectedContrarian]

rare aussie W

 

[ResurrectedContrarian]

by the way, the most effective way to stop the horrible world of minors on social media would be to put harsh penalties on any form of marketing to, tracking the behavior or interests of, or in any other way making money off the online activities of minors.

Knowingly planting an ad campaign targeting minors on some social media platform? Massive consequences. Tracking even the most superficial habits and patterns of kids for a profit, even on Fortnite? Shut it down.

I think it's possible to have a world where we make it impossible for your profits to run through minors in any way whatsoever; all you can legally target are parents who will purchase the games, toys, etc, no exceptions.

 

[Laptop1991]

Without actually banning the apps this won't work and will comeback on the present Aussie government at some point when they get older and vote them out, and i don't use hardly any social media anymore, but that's due to the ads and spyware not because i was addicted, which kids are no doubt, but i don't see making kids not using them, by sanctions and threats and punishment a reality in practice.

 

[FunkMiller]

rare aussie W

Yeah, it's a real horror show here otherwise

 

[Lord Panda]

Be a responsible adult and parent and don’t allow the government to nanny you.


My kids do not have social media. They are 14 and 10.

Do you get any grief from them, especially from the 14yo?

 

[AJUMP23]

Do you get any grief from them, especially from the 14yo?

My 14yo asked for Instagram the other day and I told her no. But I explained that she doesn't see it now but it is for her protection.

 

[Brucey]

Your source states exactly what I stated:



It's not fully legal as in, eating an apple. It's more like owning/using a gun.


You never will. Those countries don't exactly share this kind of information lmao. It's just common sense what would happen to said people.

VPNs are fully legal in Australia. That they are illegal in North Korea is completely irrelevant.

 

[The Cockatrice]

VPNs are fully legal in Australia. That they are illegal in North Korea is completely irrelevant.

No, they're not. Show me where it states in official government writing. Being allowed=/=law.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

Be a responsible adult and parent and don’t allow the government to nanny you.


My kids do not have social media. They are 14 and 10.

I saw the father of one of the kids in Australia who killed himself after online bullying and he said their kid secretly signed up using his school email.

There's plenty of things I think the govt should stay out of, but getting kids off social media is a good thing imo

 

[natjjohn]

My 14yo asked for Instagram the other day and I told her no. But I explained that she doesn't see it now but it is for her protection.

She’s already using social media of some kind most likely.

 

[digital_ghost]

There's about to be a whole bunch of single man babies.

 

[AJUMP23]

She’s already using social media of some kind most likely.

She isn’t. She can’t install or access anything without parental consent. So the Apple parental controls are good.

 

[FunkMiller]

No, they're not. Show me where it states in official government writing. Being allowed=/=law.

Five second Google search.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/st...need-to-know-about-vpn-legality-in-australia/

 

[CGNoire]

Good. US next please.

 

[Lord Panda]

She isn’t. She can’t install or access anything without parental consent. So the Apple parental controls are good.

Does she have a mobile phone?

The reason I ask is that I’m a dad to a three-year-old, with another on the way, so I’m always interested in parenting strategies in today’s digital age. Recently, I was listening to our national public radio where they were asking the kids what they thought about this ban and surprisingly, many of them not only supported banning social media but went further, suggesting all mobile phones should be banned.

One of the kids made a good point, though—no matter what restrictions are in place, kids will always find a way around them, likely through lesser-known and lesser-policed/moderated apps and platforms. Policing something like that would be a massive and probably impossible task. To be fair, they probably cherry-picked the more switched-on kids or only aired the more articulate responses.

Ideally, we shouldn’t need government intervention for this, but given the scale and complexity of the forces at play, perhaps that view is a bit outdated and parents need all the help they can get.

 

[LimanimaPT]

Ban social media for adults too.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Five second Google search.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/st...need-to-know-about-vpn-legality-in-australia/

All these articles state the word "legal" very broadly, not literal, but it still didnt disprove my point. Allowed does not mean its in the legislature/law. I bolded the keypoints that the article also cleary states

The use of VPNs in Australia is legal. You have the right to employ a VPN for privacy, and security, or to access geo-restricted content. The legality of VPNs is affirmed by various online resources which state clearly that Australian citizens can use these services without fear of legal repercussions. However, while VPNs are legal, the activities carried out using a VPN may not be, if they violate any other laws.

Various online resources =/= law. Its only legal to use it until they feel like they dont want you to use it, nothing is protecting users from it and the Government can decide at a whim what they deem unlawful when it comes to its usage as the bolded part clearly states.

 

[FunkMiller]

All these articles state the word "legal" very broadly, not literal, but it still didnt disprove my point. Allowed does not mean its in the legislature/law. I bolded the keypoints that the article also cleary states

The use of knives in Australia is legal. You have the right to employ a knife for cutting objects. The legality of knives is affirmed by various online resources which state clearly that Australian citizens can use these objects without fear of legal repercussions. However, while knives are legal, the activities carried out using a knife may not be, if they violate any other laws.

 

[The Cockatrice]

It's more like owning/using a gun

 

[Vexed Dad]

Slowly, more and more countries are realizing the issues with social media and phones.
Thankfully, more and more countries are taking action to curb this problem.

Yea, God forbid parents actual parent their children and young adults and restrict access to phones, tablets and the internet.... Best we let the government do it.

 

[JimmyRustler]

Yea, God forbid parents actual parent their children and young adults and restrict access to phones, tablets and the internet.... Best we let the government do it.

In an ideal world this is how it works, however we don't live in an ideal world. Way to few people actually care or they are themselves addicted to social media and hence useless as role models for their kids. And even if they are, sooner or later your kids have to mingle with the rabble. Good luck telling them not to use this when 95% of their classmates do.

Sadly at this point a government intervention won't be avoidable if things are to improve.

 

[Toons]

Its an overstep to an issue that requires nuance and balance.

Many families use social media to keep in touch with their family members including their young ones. Taking that option away is dumb.

If parents correctly patented their children this wouldn't even be an issue. Instead they are punishing the kids for the parents failures.

Theres also the fact that young people will absolutely find a way around this like they do everything else. What does this include? Tiktok and IG is obvious but what else? YouTube? Discord? So now a kid can't play video games with his friends over discord?

I dont see any way this works out the way they intended.

 

[FunkMiller]

Dude... you're determined to make out that VPNs are in some way not legal. They are. Clearly and definitively.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Dude... you're determined to make out that VPNs are in some way not legal. They are. Clearly and definitively.

Im not determined to make out anything. All I'm saying they're a grey area, not protected by the law at all and governments can easily change their tune. People should be aware of it.

 

[AJUMP23]

Does she have a mobile phone?

The reason I ask is that I’m a dad to a three-year-old, with another on the way, so I’m always interested in parenting strategies in today’s digital age. Recently, I was listening to our national public radio where they were asking the kids what they thought about this ban and surprisingly, many of them not only supported banning social media but went further, suggesting all mobile phones should be banned.

One of the kids made a good point, though—no matter what restrictions are in place, kids will always find a way around them, likely through lesser-known and lesser-policed/moderated apps and platforms. Policing something like that would be a massive and probably impossible task. To be fair, they probably cherry-picked the more switched-on kids or only aired the more articulate responses.

Ideally, we shouldn’t need government intervention for this, but given the scale and complexity of the forces at play, perhaps that view is a bit outdated and parents need all the help they can get.

She does have a phone. Just no social media apps.

 

[natjjohn]

She isn’t. She can’t install or access anything without parental consent. So the Apple parental controls are good.

If she hangs out with other kids, have to be realistic there’s almost assuredly usage/exposure*

*source: I was a kid once