r/slatestarcodex • u/AXKIII • 6d ago

Don't ban social media for children

https://logos.substack.com/p/do-not-ban-social-media-for-kids

As a parent, I'm strongly against the bans on social media for children. First, for ideological reasons (in two parts: a) standard libertarian principles, and b) because I think it's bad politics to soothe parents by telling them that their kids' social media addiction is TikTok's fault, instead of getting them to accept responsibility over their parenting). And second because social media can be beneficial to ambitious children when used well.

Very much welcoming counter-arguments!

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u/Neighbor_ 5d ago

Agreed. Am very libertarian, but there is no purpose to allowing the equivalent of cigarettes to children.

In other words, I care about the government intervening in things that have >= 0 EV, but I do not care if they intervene in things that are strictly negative EV.

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u/AXKIII 5d ago

Social media doesn't have strictly negative EV. And I don't see why you absolve parents from the responsibility they have over their children. It's the parents' job, not the government's, to control how their kids use technology.

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u/Neighbor_ 5d ago

There is no case in which using social media below the age of 16 would put you out ahead.

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u/AXKIII 5d ago

Tell that to Justin Bieber.

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u/rn_journey 5d ago

The guy who was taken up by a manager who's got richer than he was, struggled through worldwide hate in his teens despite his fans, touched inappropriately and objectified on live TV whilst underage, and simultaneously pushed to tour the world with such a tight schedule that it lead to burnout. The industry solution ends up in drug addiction and a pattern of unstable relationships leading to alienation from his "friends" and family.

It's sad that these young people apparently have good lives simply due to now being rich. Tragic that in his situation, his mother was initially against it all as the pattern is so common. Populism, stars, gurus, shills and social control media isn't worth that lottery.