The move was due to fears that messaging functions on the platforms allowed strangers to groom children, according to the newspaper. It suggested similar reselling platforms, Depop and Facebook Marketplace, would also be included in the list of banned sites.
I don’t even know what to say to this LOL.
A 15 year old isn’t a child.
Cool. So Epstein did nothing wrong. Got it!
The cognitive dissonance in this thread is astounding.
There is a very clear difference between sexual abuse of minors and the ability to communicate. One is bad regardless of how you frame it, the other is dependent on the respective medium and how it is moderated.
Giving a 15 y.o. a platform to discuss stuff with peers, even if there are people out there who might try to groom them, is a good thing. The groomers are the ones that have to be reigned in, not the teens.
I completely agree and think that the proposal in the article really misses the mark.
However, to claim the issue is moot because “15 year olds are not children” (as some have done in this thread) is patently ridiculous. Taking that argument to its logical conclusion exposes its flaws — which was the point of my previous comment.
“Not a child” doesn’t mean “is an adult”. We’re talking about an intermediate stage where they need to be able to gradually take on more responsibility for themselves, but still need extra protection from things like sexual predators because their risk assessment abilities aren’t yet fully developed.
Fuck off mate, stop trying to change the narrative.
This isn’t a place for 15 year olds.
This question for you too, why not? This place would be a better experience than any corporate media for teenagers. I ensure you that the vast majority of mods and admins here take a hard stance against grooming, and any evidence of such behavior would lead to instant bans for the culprits.
On Facebook not even AI-generated CSAM causes mods to spring into action without media attention.
Does a 15 year old have a nuanced take on tax policy? On worker’s rights? On social security or welfare? My gut tells me no in almost every situation.
I’m not necessarily opposed to younger people being able to view discussions around political topics, but I question their ability to interact with informed opinions on said subjects.
While I believe this is largely correct, it does not support your conclusion.
You are assuming that the participation would need to be to the benefit of the community to be worthwhile. That’s not the case. The party which actually stands to benefit most is the teen themselves. They may not be able to meaningfully participate in the kinds of discussion examples you have listed, but they could try.
After all, not being an ignorant dumbass is a skill that must be learned, and one that (as evidenced by this thread) many adults never managed to learn for themselves.
That is completely ignorant of issues involving discrimination, clearly ageism is just the tip of the iceberg here - my gut tells me you are just as naive when it comes to gender or even race.
Everyone reading this, please just block this user as this is clearly a troll. No point wasting your mental capacity on this fud.
Have you even read my other responses? I’m genuinely engaging in good faith and you’re calling me a troll. Have a look at my profile. You have no clue.
Hmm, I don’t know about that. But I do know that it isn’t a place for bigoted pricks.
If that’s directed at me you can go fuck yourself. I’ve substantiated my opinion and it’s not based on “bigotry”, which I’m not even sure is thing regarding age.
But 16 year olds are a-okay?
Did I say that? I don’t believe I did.
Ageist
Shouldn’t you be in class somewhere?
I didn’t say I was 15, just to not be ageist to 15 year olds
So, if we’re done with the snarky comments and insults, answer me this. What benefit does it do either party for under 16s to have direct interactions with random adults in their 30s/40s+? Because that’s most of the user base here. Not everyone is out to engage in good faith and many younger folks may not see dangerous situations ahead of time.
I don’t see a situation where a random 15 year old and a random 40 year old need to interact here. The maturity levels, intersts, and life experiences are completely different between them, and I’m having a hard time seeing why a middle aged adult would want to have serious interactions with a literal child. Sure, they’re a teen, but they aren’t legally adults.
For one example, if they’re trans and find info about diy HRT younger than they would have otherwise and are spared years of irreversible changes and dysphoria.
Or, you know, just that they’re people who should have a voice and ears and not be barred from the wider societal conversation from everything about TV shows to national politics to educational policies, that they should have a voice in, and are indeed pubescent and more mature than actual children at thinking.
To engage with other people, practicising their online interaction skills, as they’re not going to suddenly be magically more able to resist disinformation and stuff at 16 because of a few months of brain development, the more important thing is practice and being exposed to online content.
There are plenty of online resources regarding this information that don’t require young people to interact directly with random older people who may or may not be acting in good faith. All of what you described, with the exception of online interaction, is available without placing children and teens in a place where they can be groomed or exploited by bad faith actors.
As for the other side, middle aged adults have no need to be directly interacting with teens and younger that they met online. There’s no benefit for those individuals and too much room for exploitation to occur without moderation.
I don’t see a situation where the benefits outweigh the risks for teens and children interacting with random adults online. I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree here.