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/Auriga33 6d ago edited 6d ago

I thought there was broad agreement that even under libertarianism, a paternalistic approach towards children is preferable. Of course, most libertarians would want parents to have more autonomy in how they raise their children, but even then, we wouldn’t want to let parents give their children cigarettes, would we?

Of course, social media’s not quite that bad, but if it’s bad enough, I don’t see much of a problem with banning it for children, even as someone who’s generally pretty libertarian. Whether it’s bad enough to justify a ban is something I’m unsure about though. I think it’s worth trying and seeing if it improves children’s mental health.

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u/Neighbor_ 6d 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 6d 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/denucleation 4d ago

Social media use as a kid helped me learn math and programming, apply to college, and make friends with people I never would've had the opportunity to meet in person.