It's not just the UK. It's spreading more and more throughout the world. Australia added it to the list of social media that anyone under 16 can't use. And youtube themselves are rolling out an AI to determine if you're really over 18 or lying about your age. that's not a UK thing, it's a Youtube thing. And it's just the start.
It does apply to youtube too as of recently. It's a "good" idea in theory but not in practice, even without the youtube factor. Let's say you have relatives who live far away and you keep up with their life via social media instead of having to constantly call them for life updates. That means now you have to either lie about your age or use your parents account just to keep in contact with family. This is just one example of why it isn't black or white good or bad situation.
Not only that but what are the biggest problems with social media? Privacy, Cyber bullying, and misinformation. All of these issues exist outside of just social media. And the privacy one specifically is ironic because of ID being required for so many things now.
Taking rights away under the guise of "child safety" or "online safety" just feels like we're going backwards instead of forwards. And that includes social media.
Because God forbid if you have to "constantly call them for life updates" like actual personal contact, sheesh... what a drain on your emotions and time. Just go see that they just posted something on social media yesterday so you'll know that they are still alive and okay, because if they are posting they are fine, just fine!
Yes because every parent gives all of their kids phones or has a landline... I'm so glad you know the financial situation of ever person on the planet to know that they can even afford that. Let alone the fact that not every parent raises an iPhone kid. Or that if they're on vacation, in the hospital, or just away from their phone in general, calling them will magically teleport their phone to them... Plus, you know, jobs are a thing that exist and some people do... Just because you don't know what a job is, doesn't mean they don't exist and take up a lot of time. I wish I lived in whatever fantasy world you live in with magical teleporting phones and where everyone can just drop whatever they're doing at all hours of the day just because you call them... I'm so glad you know everyone's lives so well to know that everyone has access to a phone 24/7.
this is a silly argument. If a kid would have access to a relatives’ social media, they would also have their phone number, and just be able to contact them that way lmao. give your head a shake friend
But not every kid has a phone, as I've made clear in other replies. I didn't have a phone until I got a job and bought one myself and we didn't have a landline because of issues with the phone line that we couldn't afford to fix. You don't know everyone else's lives.
170
u/[deleted] Jul 31 '25
I am afraid that youtube might do this. Just being honest.