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A comment on Australia proposes ban on social media for those under 16. Parent comment

Re:Australia proposes ban on social media for those under 16 by quitit on Thursday November 07, 2024 @03:41PM (#42080734)
Your experience brings about an excellent point (and something that is coming up in discussion frequently with the proposed under-16 social media ban in Australia - a ban that is being supported by all sides of their government.)

That point is that even the user making positive attempts to moderate their experience on the platform is futile and in my experience largely ignored. (I actually have the experience that it then shows me more of that content.)

Social media platforms are keenly aware that anger and fear drive significantly more engagement and whistleblowers have detailed how Facebook prioritises this content, shovelling it to users specifically to drive usage (and with that ad value and ad impressions).(1)(2)(3)(4)

There is a deep commercial incentive for social media networks to act against their own "community guidelines" and legislation. I applaud Australia's direction for recognising that these networks are not acting in good faith and introducing measures that address the proven harms.(5)

1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/facebook-whistleblower-frances-...

2. https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture...

3. https://time.com/6103645/facebook-whistleblower-frances-haug...

4. https://time.com/6097704/facebook-instagram-wall-street-jour...

5. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Australia proposes ban on social media for those under 16 by brokenmachine on Monday November 11, 2024 @07:33PM (#42111742)
I have successfully and completely moderated my facebook usage, in the same manner as I do with any site that doesn't respect my wishes.

I simply don't use it.

I didn't need any government "assistance".

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Australia proposes ban on social media for those under 16 by quitit on Tuesday November 12, 2024 @11:02AM (#42116632)
You don’t need to have a Facebook profile to be impersonated on Facebook.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Australia proposes ban on social media for those under 16 by brokenmachine on Wednesday November 13, 2024 @04:52PM (#42130457)
That's actually a good point.

Personally I would like them to regulate what kind of info the algorithms are allowed to use to profile people. No super-focused targeting.

[ Parent | on HN ]