TheCathyWilcoxOct 15, 2024

Deep water.

My @smh cartoon.

Show threadaltruios phasmaOct 15, 2024

@cathywilcox

Hmm, smoking is dangerous, let’s teach kids how to smoke. Same with drinking and driving. If they just start younger they’ll be better at it.

/s

For real: we should be teaching kids about social media and its dangers. I got off Facebook and most social media back in 2016 when I realized I felt angry all the time. It’s not a personal skill issue like with swimming. It’s OxyContin peddlers at it again in digital form.

Mastodon is better… but still…

Show threadAlaric
@altruios @cathywilcox social media is more than just facebook and its actually really important for connecting kids in distant communities. Good article here : https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/10/15/social-media-summit-chris-minns-peter-malinauskas/
Inside the moral panic at Australia’s ‘first of its kind’ summit about kids on social media

'The science is settled,' the SA premier touted. Meanwhile, experts raised concerns offstage in private breakout discussions.

Crikey
Oct 16, 2024 at 5:16amWeb
Show threadaltruios phasmaOct 16, 2024
@spinal @cathywilcox you have a link not blocked by account sign in? Otherwise you will need to summarize.
Show threadaltruios phasmaOct 16, 2024

@spinal @cathywilcox I also remain skeptical of your claim “it is important” for connecting distant groups to kids…
I agree “it is important for functionally connecting distant groups of people together”
But my skepticism is rooted in: is connecting kids to the internet social networks a good thing at all.

What “distant groups” are good for kids?

The only people that want to connect to kids on social are some combination of marketers / pedophiles / other kids.

Show threadAlaricOct 16, 2024
@altruios @cathywilcox it’s basically saying that the ban is being driven by moral panic imported from the states, rather than research when a lot of the best researchers in this area are actually in Australia. It also makes the point that social media is difficult to define. So I live in the country and it’s the only way my kids get to interact with their friends who are too far away most of the time.
Show threadaltruios phasmaOct 16, 2024
@spinal @cathywilcox small social networks that are private are completely different beasts than social media. I agree. But using Facebook or equivalent (advertiser access to users): the cost/benefit changes significantly.