No not really. Just the kids will get around a social media ban, they’re not terribly effective if you’re not willing to really come down hard on the oligarchs, and social media is a broad category that involves messaging to content. Kids talking to their peers isn’t a policy problem to be solved.
Canada’s AI and online harms strategies will be in the news over the next few days of the G7.
I recommend following @alexpanetta.bsky.social for a delightfully-informed Canadian tech-journo perspective.
His Substack is also worthwhile.
#cdnpoli
And what’s more, absolutely no one wants to think about the state’s responsibility to build spaces for play, belonging, art, creativity, dance, poetry (which is what hip hop is, and I’m reliably informed the kids enjoy it), and meaningful social/emotional supports and skills. For kids or anyone else
Zombified algo-slaves blunting the pain of modern life with vids, YouTube, and infinite scroll.
Olds should probably ask themselves what the problem to be solved actually is.
It’s not kids messaging each other. And if you talk to kids, you’ll see that’s what they use insta/snapchat for 🧵
So if you ban them from that, they’ll just use something else to talk to each other.
Don’t you remember, Olds, how much time you spent on your landline talking to your friends? 🧵
There is a problem with algo rabbit holes and the content we find there. Eating disorders, social comparison, violent misogyny, etc
Solving that would take a steel rod up the spine of govts like Cda and Aus, to follow the EU and go further. Obvi leaving USA behind. 🧵
Do I think the govt’s current strategy will do it? I don’t. And I don’t see the fortitude to stand up to the oligarchs. It’s just not the vibe right now.
Sam Altman literally just cried and got off the hook for Tumbler Ridge. Ain’t nobody doing anything serious about the algo. 🧵
Banning social media for kids - great idea from Olds. Costs little. Not really enforceable, if the Australian case study is any guide.
The kids are generally using this tech as messaging. To talk to their peers. Olds are often suspicious of teenagers talking to each other.
Don’t get me wrong…🧵