A little News or No Social Media for Who?

[Bobby Cole]

I just heard that the folks 16 years old and younger can no longer use Social Media platforms in Australia.
@ Kate Ellery would probably know much more about it than the very short article I read but the word is that yep, if you’re a 16 or younger Aussie, your TikTok days are over for a while.

Might be a thing to think about here in the U.S ?

 

[Beth Gallagher]

I guess I don't care for the government controlling something that should be the parents' job. Government should focus on controlling crap like the "dark web" and all the scammers before forcing teenagers off of TikTok. And if TikTok is the problem, get rid of it instead of controlling people's kids.

I am glad that several states are no longer allowing cellphones in the classroom, though. Kids need to pay attention and learn so they can make change for a dollar in the future.

 

[Steve North]

Or learn how to write in cursive....
Or learn how to tell the time on a real clock, not a digital clock..
Or know how to use a rotary dial telephone..

 

[Yvonne Smith]

I guess I don't care for the government controlling something that should be the parents' job. Government should focus on controlling crap like the "dark web" and all the scammers before forcing teenagers off of TikTok. And if TikTok is the problem, get rid of it instead of controlling people's kids.

I am glad that several states are no longer allowing cellphones in the classroom, though. Kids need to pay attention and learn so they can make change for a dollar in the future.

I agree about this being the parent’s job, and I do not like the idea of government controlling social media at all. Once they make something that stops kids from being on social media, they can stop or limit anyone from using it, or what is allowed to be posted on there.
A better thing (if they are going to do anything) would be to just take the porn-type stuff off of social media and then it would be safe for the whole family.

 

[Bobby Cole]

Or learn how to write in cursive....
Or learn how to tell the time on a real clock, not a digital clock..
Or know how to use a rotary dial telephone..

On the plus side though, when we old folks finally hit the nursing homes, we can write bad stuff on the bathroom walls about the staff knowing that they won’t be able to read cursive writing.

Lest I get too far from the topic, I do agree that the parents should be monitoring what kids watch and listen to but to some degree, doesn’t the FCC already have a lot of control?
Seems to me that I’m hearing a LOT more very ribald cursing on so called “family shows” and seeing more suggestive sorts of nudity in shows where it isn’t even called for which leads me to believe that the FCC is a defunct entity.

 

[Marie Mallory]

On the plus side though, when we old folks finally hit the nursing homes, we can write bad stuff on the bathroom walls about the staff knowing that they won’t be able to read cursive writing.

Lest I get too far from the topic, I do agree that the parents should be monitoring what kids watch and listen to but to some degree, doesn’t the FCC already have a lot of control?
Seems to me that I’m hearing a LOT more very ribald cursing on so called “family shows” and seeing more suggestive sorts of nudity in shows where it isn’t even called for which leads me to believe that the FCC is a defunct entity.

Bobby foul lango is used now by our leaders, news stations too for the first time, including the F word. Even Trump used it in the White House.
Its a whole new world now.

 

[Beth Gallagher]

Personally, I think there are much worse things to worry about than an occasional F-bomb. People being swindled out of their life savings or having their property/identity stolen, children being lured into human trafficking, etc. The internet is both a blessing and a curse.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

Personally, I think there are much worse things to worry about than an occasional F-bomb. People being swindled out of their life savings or having their property/identity stolen, children being lured into human trafficking, etc. The internet is both a blessing and a curse.

I completely agree.
While I would much prefer language to be like it was back in the 1950’s when most men didn’t say any kind of a swear word in front of a lady, and ladies didn’t say them at all; we are not likely to go back to that at this point.

I really would like to listen to some of the podcasters , like Joe Rogan, but most of it is just filthy language, and i am just not sitting through an hour or more of that.
I don’t even like to watch newer movies because of the language, most of which is unnecessary, when it is every other word.

However, in the full scheme of things, as Beth says, it is a minor (very minor) issue, and corruption and human trafficking are much more important for us to know about and be aware of.

 

[Beth Gallagher]

Maybe the decline in civility is just a symptom of the general decay of society. People used to care about their appearance, manners, proper grammar, and what others thought of them. "Keeping up appearances" was very important to my parents, and to me to an extent.

I agree with @Yvonne Smith , it is minor but I still yearn for the civility of my younger days. (And I am not above a bit of profanity so there's that.)

 

[Don Alaska]

Maybe the decline in civility is just a symptom of the general decay of society. People used to care about their appearance, manners, proper grammar, and what others thought of them. "Keeping up appearances" was very important to my parents, and to me to an extent.

I agree with @Yvonne Smith , it is minor but I still yearn for the civility of my younger days. (And I am not above a bit of profanity so there's that.)

I was thinking the same thing @Beth Gallagher. A general decline in society brought about by many things I will not mention here.

 

[Bobby Cole]

At the present time, around 90% of the teens in the U.S. use YouTube followed by TikTok at 63% and around 60% are on Instant Messenger.
Snap Chat is a close runner to IM with a small surge in Chat Box ai usage.
Not too surprisingly, FansOnly for its capacity to make money is a favorite for a few even though the creators have to be 18 years and above to enter. (which we know can be bypassed by very little effort or imagination.)

Now, the question of parental controls being implemented is already in play by YouTube, TikTok and even on most TV’s so I guess the other question might be is “why aren’t parents using those controls?”. Heck, their whole computer can be limited by a push of the button.
Are parents becoming so lazy that they literally depend on Government interception and intervention or maybe they just don’t know that the controls are right in front of them?

 

[Beth Gallagher]

Some parents are lazy, some parents don't care, some parents don't believe "their child" will visit those websites, and some parents actually don't have the technical know-how to manage child controls on a computer.

 

[Krystal Shay]

Maybe the decline in civility is just a symptom of the general decay of society. People used to care about their appearance, manners, proper grammar, and what others thought of them. "Keeping up appearances" was very important to my parents, and to me to an extent.

I agree with @Yvonne Smith , it is minor but I still yearn for the civility of my younger days. (And I am not above a bit of profanity so there's that.)

So True!! Nobody cares about any of that anymore, and it is sad. I watched a video of my little great niece’s 1st grade school Christmas program yesterday, Oh my gosh, the way all the teachers dress. The music teacher was a youngish girl and she looked like she weighed about 300 pounds. I’m not saying that to fat shame or to be mean, but this young teacher had tight leggings on, a sloppy red sweatshirt, dirty looking crocs, and long hair that looked like it hadn’t been combed or washed in days. She could have worn a nice long dress with boots and looked very nice for her size, plus professional. And don’t get started on ill-mannered people. I guess I expect too much from people. No wonder I am a grouch! And cynical!

 

[Marie Mallory]

Personally, I think there are much worse things to worry about than an occasional F-bomb. People being swindled out of their life savings or having their property/identity stolen, children being lured into human trafficking, etc. The internet is both a blessing and a curse.

So true, by our silence we the people allow it.
They make promises they know they won't keep to get elected.
Like Trump on illegals when running for President, "all 30 million of you illegals have to go," then he gets elected," well if you've been here a couple years, have a good job, you can stay."
I try to stay out of politics ,but fail now and then.

 

[Hedi Mitchell]

In regards to the topic -. I guess the govt thinks parents need their help,as many do not monitor their social behavior. Like many of you I think govt should clean up their own house before trying to tackle others. I have addressed the cursing and F bombs before so will not bore you again. For me I say lots of stuff at home, but try not to in public.

 

[Lois E. Winters]

Between this corrupt government and lazy parents, it is no wonder we are in this situation. Reading history, though, has taught me that, these cycles are nothing new. The dichotomy changes as well as social behavior, but the fundamentals are just the same.

I try to stay away from the news as it isn't factual, and that's a fact.

 

[Marie Mallory]

Between this corrupt government and lazy parents, it is no wonder we are in this situation. Reading history, though, has taught me that, these cycles are nothing new. The dichotomy changes as well as social behavior, but the fundamentals are just the same.

I try to stay away from the news as it isn't factual, and that's a fact.

I try to stay away from news too, but it is a challenge to me. Then I have to vent ala give my useless opinion, which at times just peeves people of.

 

[Marie Mallory]

Some parents are lazy, some parents don't care, some parents don't believe "their child" will visit those websites, and some parents actually don't have the technical know-how to manage child controls on a computer.

Some parents are also the grandparents who are raising them. Some of those know less than the 6 yr old about computers.
Families aren't the same as when we were young. Then a man was shamed or better yet locked up if he abandoned his kids.
Last 50 years judge's give them a slap on the hand tell the mother to get a job.
Many kids too are latch key kids or raised by strangers who could care less.
Look at the youth in the streets now looting,robbing killing.

 

[Bobby Cole]

It’s almost like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

First off, I certainly do not want to give more power to ANY city, state or federal governments.
As it is, the combination of the three has taken a lot of power from the parents and teachers in regard to a kid’s upbringing which paints those same law making entities into a corner.
Instead of backing up and once again throwing the weight of teaching to parents and teachers complete with all the accountabilities that entails, for 3 generations it has allowed any and all types of social media to fill Johnny’s and Sally’s brain with trash which is why Johnny is hooked on mom’s Tide pods, has multiple pronouns and wants to get rid of his “personal equipment” because after all, he was born to be a girl. Let’s not Even get started on what Sally is leaning.

Problem is, the government can’t just tell parents and teachers to start doing their job complete with unlocking the woodshed because now, the generations that are raising the kids know nothing but the psycho-babble they’ve learned [from social media] which panders to a child’s whims and then calls it parenting and teaching”.

So, in a way, I kind of understand why New Zealand is banning Social Media for kids. If Momma, Daddy and the Teachers can’t teach and lock up the equipment, then someone has to.
Maybe without all the outside influences broadcast in 5G networks 24 hours a day, moms and dads will start relearning how to be real fathers and mothers.??

 

[Don Alaska]

It’s almost like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

First off, I certainly do not want to give more power to ANY city, state or federal governments.
As it is, the combination of the three has taken a lot of power from the parents and teachers in regard to a kid’s upbringing which paints those same law making entities into a corner.
Instead of backing up and once again throwing the weight of teaching to parents and teachers complete with all the accountabilities that entails, for 3 generations it has allowed any and all types of social media to fill Johnny’s and Sally’s brain with trash which is why Johnny is hooked on mom’s Tide pods, has multiple pronouns and wants to get rid of his “personal equipment” because after all, he was born to be a girl. Let’s not Even get started on what Sally is leaning.

Problem is, the government can’t just tell parents and teachers to start doing their job complete with unlocking the woodshed because now, the generations that are raising the kids know nothing but the psycho-babble they’ve learned [from social media] which panders to a child’s whims and then calls it parenting and teaching”.

So, in a way, I kind of understand why New Zealand is banning Social Media for kids. If Momma, Daddy and the Teachers can’t teach and lock up the equipment, then someone has to.
Maybe without all the outside influences broadcast in 5G networks 24 hours a day, moms and dads will start relearning how to be real fathers and mothers.??

Governments, especially in Europe, use "protecting children" as an excuse to restrict free speech and monitor access to the internet. It is one of those slippery slopes.