I'm very critical of all the schemes proposed but this is just a fundamental misconception on your part.

> If there was a legitimate drive to protect kids from the worst of the Internet

As with any disease, the impact heavily depends on virality.

The worst the internet has to offer to children, is not the gore or porn for the few that look for it (usually individually). The worst it does to children is the attention algorithm that captures practically everybody.

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pfdietz 13 hours ago | parent [-]

"But think of the children" has always been the go-to excuse for tossing freedom out the window.

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Noaidi 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

So in this case, do we just stop thinking about the children in totality?

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rudhdb773b 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

In the context of government legislation on personal behavior, yes.

Parents should be the ones setting up rules for their children.

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slavik81 13 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

If manipulative algorithm are the problem, then perhaps we should consider regulations that would protect everyone.

	▲	XorNot 11 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Exactly. The problem is no one wants to address that maybe some of these business models just need to go extinct. Like maybe ad supported infinite feeds can't be done in a socially responsible way and just need to be banned. If that takes down or substantially limits certain web service sizes...so be it.

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hn_throwaway_99 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

While I agree with this, I also find that the "but think of the children" ironic retort also usually ignores the very real problems that technology can cause children (and society at large). In this issue in particular, if banning social media for children makes it less likely for adults to use it, I see it as pretty much a win-win.

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rudhdb773b 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Would you also want the government to ban junk food and recreational drugs? What about unprotected premarital sex?

I'd much rather live in a society with personal freedoms than a "healthier" one with government mandates on personal behavior.

	▲	hn_throwaway_99 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Literally every society mandates tons of restrictions for children, because we understand that children aren't yet developed enough to be able to understand the full consequences of personal freedoms.

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expedition32 10 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Children are the survival of the species our DNA wires us to to protect them.

	▲	machomaster 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That's why people need to be especially careful when others try to use such effective methods of manipulation.