I appreciate the wealth of technical solutions that don't violate privacy, but isn't this overlooking an important point: that children don't need to be connected to the Internet at all times from such an early age? Many internet and cell phone providers seem to take it for granted that children must be online, which is already a net loss for their privacy as they mature.

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biophysboy an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Its a tragedy of the commons situation. The benefits of being offline are dampened by the kid being out of the loop

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hasteg an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I agree, I think kids should have limited access to the internet. I pretty much did and it worked out for me but I have seen so many reports about it causing harm in schools and personal life. (Specifically I think LLMs should not be used in education also, but different point) However, I think the main problem people have with this "think of the children" narrative is that it will force EVERYONE to give up their credentials to access the internet, not just kids. And the general consensus is that we as adults do not want to and should not have to prove our identity to access the internet.

	▲	mossTechnician an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I am wholeheartedly against identity verification, especially when it comes to giving up privacy. And I hope these "think of the children" arguments can be pushed back at from multiple angles. If the danger is real, then by the time a child is online, 4 out of 5 in them in Australia can apparently access social media anyway. So even if everyone's privacy was somehow an acceptable price to pay, these requirements do nothing.

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Aurornis an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That's their parents' decision to make, not yours.

	▲	drooby 23 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Should it also be their decision that they can gamble? Smoke cigarettes? Get a job? Have sex? We draw the line somewhere because these things that "are the parents' decision" have consequences on broader society. They have consequences that impact you and me. And we also have a say. You can make the argument that it's just the parents' decision. But you have to say why.

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jszymborski an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

I mean its only a hope and a skip away from having to validate ones age to turn on the router.