Ban all you want, if its not enforced it doesnt fucking matter.
They cant keep kids under 13 off of their platforms so this wont change anything.
Maultaschenman on
Educate kids and parents, no need for a non enforceable ban.
External-Chemical-71 on
I mean I kinda agree with the sentiment. We actually recently took the smartphone we bought as a Christmas present for our 12yo daughter back after discovering the content being viewed and conversations had with what she thought were other teenagers, far more likely to be some grubby 40 yo paedophile.
But how will this be practically implemented or enforced? Considering the farcical fist we make of enforcing even existing laws.
bingybong22 on
Why not under 18? Social media works very well with adolescents because they’re naive and want to fit in. For this reason it’s extremely toxic for them.
It makes them nervous, depressed and more stupid – most content on social media celebrates stupidity
YoIronFistBro on
Jesus fucking christ what year is it.
The3rdbaboon on
Closing the stable door 15 years after the horse has bolted.
SeanG909 on
Yeah way too late for that.
vinceswish on
I’m ok only if the government will ban the use of Facebook by adults
demonspawns_ghost on
“Rock and roll music is turning our children into delinquents!”
mayveen on
I don’t think it would be practical to implement this restriction.
Some form of age verification would have to happen. Either the different social media companies and other services will have to request, verify and store personal IDs to determine a users age. Or the government would have to provide a similar service for these services to use, where maybe you only have to provide your PPSN and the government service will say yes or no to your access.
It’ll probably go as well as the restrictions in porn in some US states where VPN usage dramatically increased after the introduction. Some companies also withdrew from those markets as they were responsible for storing and verifying the information.
Ok_Organization_8354 on
I wish they’d ban me from using the bastarding thing so much
Margrave75 on
Used the start of secondary school as getting a phone for our two older kids, and so shall be for the youngest.
Youngest is starting 6th class, I’d say about ½ the kids in her class of 26 have had phones since 4th class.
Was a big hullabaloo last year when one of the kids was being bullied on Snapchat (I think). Anyway, the mum went nuts and sent messages to all the other kids about how much trouble they were going to get into and went into school. Staff obviously couldn’t do anything about it has hadn’t happened in the school.
Turned out, the kid that was claiming to have being billied, was herself the bully, and the other kids were trying to get her to stop bulling some other kid. Mad shit!
Thankfully we weren’t sucked into that shite!
Cear-Crakka on
I agree with the ban but I’m of the opinion that we all use smart phones too much. Caught myself the other night switching off my computer just to then start browsing on my phone in bed, had to stop myself mid article and consciously put it down to sleep. You notice it alot on the train or bus, we’re like zombies sometimes.
Julymart1 on
1 year olds are handed phones with apps to keep them busy like the plastic keys of old.
Suppose thick parents think ‘O this is just a toy to them. We’ll keep them off the phones ’till their 13 and we’ll start anytime now, you’ll see’.
TomatoJuice303 on
As somebody plagued by my kids’ smartphones, I don’t think I agree with an outright ban. Kids need to learn how to be responsible and have a healthy relationship with tech. They have to learn this behaviour. An awful lot of adults who got their first smartphones *as adults* also have unhealthy relationships with their phones.
One reason I’m plagued by my kids’ smartphones is that I give them a daily allowance and the argument is always that their friends have unlimited access to their devices. This is the cause of many rows in our household. Numerous parents have told me that I’m ‘so brave’ for putting a timelock on my kids’ devices and I’m bamboozled by that. I’m not brave, just concerned for my kids’ wellbeing.
Then, there is the behaviour of the tech companies intentionally keeping kids glued to their phones. If anything, I think they should be prohibited from facilitating doomscrolling and the ‘search for the dopamine hit’ (which, of course, is the exact opposite of what they want). I’ve no idea how that could be done, though.
Another reason I’m plagued by my kids’ smartphones is that their, formerly amazing, imaginations have been crippled. One of my kids had his head permanently stuck in a book before he got a smartphone and they were all great outdoor kids. The day he got his smartphone, the books became a secondary consideration. He still reads, but only after he has used up his phone allowance.
I’m sticking to my guns though.
I told my eldest that, when he turned 16, I might remove all locks from his phone. I’m having second opinions about that though. Perhaps I should wait.
I do agree that phones should be banned in schools. I also think that ‘iPad’ schools should become a thing of the past too. I’ve read that Sweden, who were pioneers of the iPad school, have realised it has failed and have reverted to traditional schoolbooks.
SpiritualNumber1989 on
My niece was given a phone for her 8th birthday. My own son aged 10 begged for a phone and it was a firm no. He can hate me as much as he wants as he ages (currently he’s not overly arsed anymore about having a phone) but my main job as a parent is to keep him safe.
I cannot believe my own sister has given her daughter a phone. It’s like she’s lost all common sense trying to befriend her daughter. It’s pathetic.
Parents don’t want to parent anymore and that’s the issue. If you’re a decent parent you keep your kids off the phones and off social media.
LockNo8054 on
I think we really need to look into what makes social media addictive i.e. design choices such infinite scrolling, the recommendation systems and how/what they are optimised on i.e. max time on platform, and start looking at possibly banning those things and auditing these companies.
These platforms can and have been a lot better than they are currently, I don’t think a blanket ban will help. Maybe for kids for now, but long term I think it’s futile.
Available-Lemon9075 on
For my part I see very little positives to allowing children use smartphones and social media platforms .
They destroy attention spans, promote unhealthy body images and trends, provide a platform for grooming and bullying, make children obsess over their “worth” as measured by numbers of friends, followers likes etc. Promote a superficial and shallow view of life, destroy individuality and self expression in favour of crushing conformity etc etc
As far as I can see the negatives far outweigh the positives.
I think there needs a societal shift in attitudes towards how smartphone use in children is viewed.
It clearly not the same as TV or video games, it’s much more insidious and constant.
real_men_use_vba on
Does the IMO ever not want to ban stuff? I’m pretty sure the average doctor is statistically illiterate, we shouldn’t be taking their policy recommendations seriously
These types of phones should be the only ones allowed by law for under 16.
“Finnish firm HMD, which is backed by Alphabet’s Google and Qualcomm, has launched several feature phones, including reissues of classic Nokia phones such as the 3210 and 3310.”
SIGN ME UP for 3310
EdwardElric69 on
My little cousin could grab his moms phone, unlock it, open youtube and find a paw patrol video before he could talk.
22 Comments
Link to statement here: https://www.imo.ie/news-media/news-press-releases/2024/imo-welcomes-proposed-ban/index.xml
Ban all you want, if its not enforced it doesnt fucking matter.
They cant keep kids under 13 off of their platforms so this wont change anything.
Educate kids and parents, no need for a non enforceable ban.
I mean I kinda agree with the sentiment. We actually recently took the smartphone we bought as a Christmas present for our 12yo daughter back after discovering the content being viewed and conversations had with what she thought were other teenagers, far more likely to be some grubby 40 yo paedophile.
But how will this be practically implemented or enforced? Considering the farcical fist we make of enforcing even existing laws.
Why not under 18? Social media works very well with adolescents because they’re naive and want to fit in. For this reason it’s extremely toxic for them.
It makes them nervous, depressed and more stupid – most content on social media celebrates stupidity
Jesus fucking christ what year is it.
Closing the stable door 15 years after the horse has bolted.
Yeah way too late for that.
I’m ok only if the government will ban the use of Facebook by adults
“Rock and roll music is turning our children into delinquents!”
I don’t think it would be practical to implement this restriction.
Some form of age verification would have to happen. Either the different social media companies and other services will have to request, verify and store personal IDs to determine a users age. Or the government would have to provide a similar service for these services to use, where maybe you only have to provide your PPSN and the government service will say yes or no to your access.
It’ll probably go as well as the restrictions in porn in some US states where VPN usage dramatically increased after the introduction. Some companies also withdrew from those markets as they were responsible for storing and verifying the information.
I wish they’d ban me from using the bastarding thing so much
Used the start of secondary school as getting a phone for our two older kids, and so shall be for the youngest.
Youngest is starting 6th class, I’d say about ½ the kids in her class of 26 have had phones since 4th class.
Was a big hullabaloo last year when one of the kids was being bullied on Snapchat (I think). Anyway, the mum went nuts and sent messages to all the other kids about how much trouble they were going to get into and went into school. Staff obviously couldn’t do anything about it has hadn’t happened in the school.
Turned out, the kid that was claiming to have being billied, was herself the bully, and the other kids were trying to get her to stop bulling some other kid. Mad shit!
Thankfully we weren’t sucked into that shite!
I agree with the ban but I’m of the opinion that we all use smart phones too much. Caught myself the other night switching off my computer just to then start browsing on my phone in bed, had to stop myself mid article and consciously put it down to sleep. You notice it alot on the train or bus, we’re like zombies sometimes.
1 year olds are handed phones with apps to keep them busy like the plastic keys of old.
Suppose thick parents think ‘O this is just a toy to them. We’ll keep them off the phones ’till their 13 and we’ll start anytime now, you’ll see’.
As somebody plagued by my kids’ smartphones, I don’t think I agree with an outright ban. Kids need to learn how to be responsible and have a healthy relationship with tech. They have to learn this behaviour. An awful lot of adults who got their first smartphones *as adults* also have unhealthy relationships with their phones.
One reason I’m plagued by my kids’ smartphones is that I give them a daily allowance and the argument is always that their friends have unlimited access to their devices. This is the cause of many rows in our household. Numerous parents have told me that I’m ‘so brave’ for putting a timelock on my kids’ devices and I’m bamboozled by that. I’m not brave, just concerned for my kids’ wellbeing.
Then, there is the behaviour of the tech companies intentionally keeping kids glued to their phones. If anything, I think they should be prohibited from facilitating doomscrolling and the ‘search for the dopamine hit’ (which, of course, is the exact opposite of what they want). I’ve no idea how that could be done, though.
Another reason I’m plagued by my kids’ smartphones is that their, formerly amazing, imaginations have been crippled. One of my kids had his head permanently stuck in a book before he got a smartphone and they were all great outdoor kids. The day he got his smartphone, the books became a secondary consideration. He still reads, but only after he has used up his phone allowance.
I’m sticking to my guns though.
I told my eldest that, when he turned 16, I might remove all locks from his phone. I’m having second opinions about that though. Perhaps I should wait.
I do agree that phones should be banned in schools. I also think that ‘iPad’ schools should become a thing of the past too. I’ve read that Sweden, who were pioneers of the iPad school, have realised it has failed and have reverted to traditional schoolbooks.
My niece was given a phone for her 8th birthday. My own son aged 10 begged for a phone and it was a firm no. He can hate me as much as he wants as he ages (currently he’s not overly arsed anymore about having a phone) but my main job as a parent is to keep him safe.
I cannot believe my own sister has given her daughter a phone. It’s like she’s lost all common sense trying to befriend her daughter. It’s pathetic.
Parents don’t want to parent anymore and that’s the issue. If you’re a decent parent you keep your kids off the phones and off social media.
I think we really need to look into what makes social media addictive i.e. design choices such infinite scrolling, the recommendation systems and how/what they are optimised on i.e. max time on platform, and start looking at possibly banning those things and auditing these companies.
These platforms can and have been a lot better than they are currently, I don’t think a blanket ban will help. Maybe for kids for now, but long term I think it’s futile.
For my part I see very little positives to allowing children use smartphones and social media platforms .
They destroy attention spans, promote unhealthy body images and trends, provide a platform for grooming and bullying, make children obsess over their “worth” as measured by numbers of friends, followers likes etc. Promote a superficial and shallow view of life, destroy individuality and self expression in favour of crushing conformity etc etc
As far as I can see the negatives far outweigh the positives.
I think there needs a societal shift in attitudes towards how smartphone use in children is viewed.
It clearly not the same as TV or video games, it’s much more insidious and constant.
Does the IMO ever not want to ban stuff? I’m pretty sure the average doctor is statistically illiterate, we shouldn’t be taking their policy recommendations seriously
[“The phone, priced at £99, is available starting from today. The device allows users to make calls and send texts but gives no access to social media apps.”](https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/0828/1467043-hmd-global-to-make-barbie-phone/#:~:text=The%20device%20allows%20users%20to,the%20dark%2C%20the%20company%20said.)
These types of phones should be the only ones allowed by law for under 16.
“Finnish firm HMD, which is backed by Alphabet’s Google and Qualcomm, has launched several feature phones, including reissues of classic Nokia phones such as the 3210 and 3310.”
SIGN ME UP for 3310
My little cousin could grab his moms phone, unlock it, open youtube and find a paw patrol video before he could talk.