I had Myspace at 13 (before smartphones) and agree with this decision. Cyberbullying and social manipulation have grown exponentially, and it really cannot be overstated how much damage that has done to so many young people's personal development.

I agree with the decision also, more so when the UK is following suit. Although, our case is different because the tragic suicide of Molly Rose is still in the minds of many, as a result of her being exposed to such harmful content on Instagram.

 

However, I'm a bit concerned as to how it's going to be enforced...

It seems exaggerated to me, prohibiting the use of social networks as teenagers, a few years away from being adults, the only thing that will achieve is that they will be extremely sensitive and accept a reality that is crueler than one thinks when they become adults. I feel that Wanting to deprive them of realities can be bad, if they are 10 years old I understand it, but 16 years old and they cannot use social networks? it seems exaggerated to me

However, I'm a bit concerned as to how it's going to be enforced...

This. It's generally hard to enforce such laws. I know it will probably be better than COPPA where all you do is check a box confirming you're 13 years or older, but there are so many loopholes a 16-year-old can do to get around such a restriction.

This. It's generally hard to enforce such laws. I know it will probably be better than COPPA where all you do is check a box confirming you're 13 years or older, but there are so many loopholes a 16-year-old can do to get around such a restriction.

Coppa actually required parental consent forms before. It was heavily enforced and they would go after sites that weren’t abying by their rules. Especially if they catered to kids.

 

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/privacy-security/verifiable-parental-consent-childrens-online-privacy-rule

 

 

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-six-step-compliance-plan-your-business

 

COPPA doesn’t apply to everyone operating a website or other online service. Put simply, COPPA applies to operators of websites and online services that collect personal information from kids under 13. Here’s a more specific way of determining if COPPA applies to you. You must comply with COPPA if:

 

Your website or online service is directed to children under 13 and you collect personal information from them.

 

OR

 

Your website or online service is directed to children under 13 and you let others collect personal information from them.

 

OR

 

Your website or online service is directed to a general audience, but you have actual knowledge that you collect personal information from children under 13.

 

OR

 

Your company runs an ad network or plug-in, for example, and you have actual knowledge that you collect personal information from users of a website or service directed to children under 13.

 

To determine if you’re covered by COPPA, look at how the Rule defines some key terms.

 

[HEADING=2]“Website or online service”[/HEADING]

COPPA defines this term broadly. In addition to standard websites, examples of others covered by the Rule include:

 

• mobile apps that send or receive information online (like network-connected games, social networking apps, or apps that deliver behaviorally-targeted ads),
  
• internet-enabled gaming platforms,
  
• plug-ins,
  
• advertising networks,
  
• internet-enabled location-based services,
  
• voice-over internet protocol services,
  
• connected toys or other Internet of Things devices.
  

Coppa actually required parental consent forms before. It was heavily enforced and they would go after sites that weren’t abying by their rules. Especially if they catered to kids.

Required? So, it's no longer a requirement?

This will be easily circumvented. Even if they ask for parental consent, most parents will just lie about the age of their children for some peace and quiet.

This. It's generally hard to enforce such laws. I know it will probably be better than COPPA where all you do is check a box confirming you're 13 years or older, but there are so many loopholes a 16-year-old can do to get around such a restriction.

It's the same like being on InvisionFree back in the day. We weren't 13 when we started, yet we confirmed we were.

We weren't 13 when we started, yet we confirmed we were.

Excuse me sir, I was 14 when I started using message boards.😆

 

However, I didn't even know COPPA existed at the time, so I guess consider me lucky for starting to use forums at the age of 14.

I think the idea behind an enforceable age restriction on social media sites is a good one, I just fail to see how it will be successfully implemented. Some parents will "give in" to their kids and help them circumvent restrictions and have an account. What then? Are such parents criminalised or something? It doesn't seem viable or proportionate to criminalise the children, nor the parents, and without some form of "penalisation", I can't see how enforcement would work.

It’ll just make it more desirable to be on it. Peer pressure and the forbidden-ness of it will do wonders for quiet adoption.

 

Then we’ll see legislators do something dumb like mandate these services hook up to age-confirmation services, which just hands more data to people who shouldn’t have it.

I don't see how this can truly be enforced. There's probably going to be parents that allow their kids to join social media platforms whenever they're younger than 16 and just tick the box that they are 16 or older. I guess that's all the social media sites need to do, have something pop up if the person is visiting their site and trying to make an account under an Australia IP address.

Since when do underage kids get rights ?!

 

All I got growing up was privileges.

And if I screwed up .....

Since when do underage kids get rights ?!

 

All I got growing up was privileges.

And if I screwed up .....

Since it became utterly normalised to give them a device in their pocket with the internet attached. Especially as we veer towards normalising internet access as a right rather than a privilege.

 

But given how often people try to bend the rules on, say, buying alcohol, what are the odds that this will succeed? Make it unreachable and they’ll just want it more. It’s actually better to not stigmatise it and allow controlled access earlier.

. It’s actually better to not stigmatise it and allow controlled access earlier.

And that's where parenting failures occur. It is never 'controlled'. Many parents don't have the technical wherewithal (or care to) to understand and protect children from the world. And then the governments try to create a safer environment for kids, and they get bashed for even thinking of that.