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Reddit files legal challenge against social media ban for under-16s

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/reddit-social-media-ban-under-16-court-challenge/106134994
kingofras @lemmy.world - 32min

And even if we agree, all you’ll ever hear from me is Fuck u/spez

4
Sunshine (she/her) - 2hr

Australia is a nanny state censoring the internet.

1
shirro - 60min

Not really. The legislation is stupid but the big tech companies are predatory and needed to be regulated. As does the gambling industry. There is a long list of stuff Labor should be doing but mostly aren't because they are piss weak. They chose social media because it didn't upset any major supporters and it was judged to be popular with average voters.

It is just very poorly done. I have to go find a new music app now for the family as we can't all use Youtube Music Premium anymore so it is a waste of money. My kids youtube accounts were managed under family link and had comments disabled some content restrictions and no ads. The ads are as harmful as social media IMO - sexualising kids, creating insecurity over appearance, clothing, weight, pushing unhealthy food, gambling, divisive politics, consumerism.

I can use hacked youtube clients on some platforms but they are closed source from less trusted parties and could be a security risk. I can try and trick YT with vpns and a set of new accounts but thats going to be tricky. Making fake adult accounts is no good as I can't manage adult accounts under family link and apply the restrictions I want.

But reddit can fuck right off. Hope they get laughed out of court.

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MoreZombies - 54min

The middle ground would be making these companies comply with rules that stop them manipulating users, but we already know that these companies would rather cop the fine and do the bad things anyway.

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Sunshine (she/her) - 33min

Then increase the fines.

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ikt - 1hr

from my pov if being a nanny state lets kids be more like kids and less like little phone addicts having their dopamines blown I don't mind it

there are other countries looking at doing the same

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAzFCwCkAgI

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Sunshine (she/her) - 1hr

You can regulate big tech without banning support groups.

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ikt - 14min

tbf i'd go even further, I'd ban over 65's as well 😶‍🌫️

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Aurenkin @sh.itjust.works - 10min

I'd ban you, because you're silly.

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dan @upvote.au - 1hr

Parents should be doing a better parenting, rather than relying on the state to do it for them.

Also, when has banning kids from doing something actually stopped them from doing it? Even "back in my day", using a proxy to bypass blocked sites was common knowledge amongst the smarter kids. The tech savvy kids would host their own proxies using a free web hosting service and PHProxy (or similar software). These days, it's much easier to use a VPN or proxy.

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zero_spelled_with_an_ecks @programming.dev - 59min

Parents can compete against teams of people whose goal is to make their platform as addictive as possible? Nah, it's a systemic problem and it won't be solved by some parents sometimes doing something of limited effectiveness. Nor will it be solved by blanket bans.

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Karjalan @lemmy.world - 49min

Ugh "parents should do better parenting" is such neo lib individualist bullshit

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Sunshine (she/her) - 31min

It’s hard already when parents are overburdened with trying to pay the bills.

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ikt - 16min

so you're in favour of it then? less need for parents to worry about what misinformation and disinformation is being supplied by paid actors on facebook, win/win ?

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ikt - 16min

Hey both of these are covered on the FAQ

proxy to bypass blocked sites was common knowledge

It's not a technological block, the social media sites will rely on a variety of signals, for example if you sign up for a facebook account in USA, but take a selfie geolocating you in australia and image scan picks up that you might be under 16, you'll still get pinged for id check

amongst the smarter kids

They are targeting all under 16's, and this is mentioned as well, even if 10% of kids get around the ban somehow, the fact that 90% don't removes a huge part of the social in social network

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