Unlike Jonathan Haidt’s and colleagues’ wildly embellished paranoia toward the screen world, teens’ more practical views don’t grant social media apocalyptic power
Probably the strongest argument against age-gating is literally my own generation (Elder Millennials). We didn't gain access to smartphones and social media until we were much older, generally early to mid-20s or older, when our brains were ostensibly "fully developed", because these technologies simply didn't exist yet. And how did we turn out now that we are 40 or close to it? Spoiler alert: not very well, if the statistics are any indication. We luuurrrrve to criticize our Boomer parents, but it looks like the apple isn't falling that far from the tree. And we luuurrrrve to self-righteously criticize Gen Z, but compared to us and every previous generation alive today, they really aren't so bad.
Fun fact about David "Danny" Blanchflower: he was famously involved in the court case Blanchflower v. Blanchflower long ago. My advice to him in that case would have been, to quote a famous sitcom, all you need is a better understanding....and a bigger bed. LOL.
Amen to that! Very well-said as usual, Mike. If social media were anywhere even remotely near as horrible as they claim, the hyperventilating social-mediaphobes of the older generations would want it banned or heavily restricted for ALL ages. Or at the very least, they would perhaps declare a state of emergency and "quarantine" it for "just two weeks" (right!). Unless, of course, they are hopelessly addicted to it, lol. Either way, it's really NOT flattering to them at all.
Probably the strongest argument against age-gating is literally my own generation (Elder Millennials). We didn't gain access to smartphones and social media until we were much older, generally early to mid-20s or older, when our brains were ostensibly "fully developed", because these technologies simply didn't exist yet. And how did we turn out now that we are 40 or close to it? Spoiler alert: not very well, if the statistics are any indication. We luuurrrrve to criticize our Boomer parents, but it looks like the apple isn't falling that far from the tree. And we luuurrrrve to self-righteously criticize Gen Z, but compared to us and every previous generation alive today, they really aren't so bad.
Your comments would be much appreciated on Haidt's latest article:
https://www.afterbabel.com/p/why-australia-is-setting-a-minimum
I already wrote one but was waiting until Monday to post it, on the theory that fewer people read substacks on holidays and weekends.
Reminder to post it today, as it is Monday. Thanks in advance 😊
Fair enough, good idea. Thanks 😊
Et tu, Australia?
https://www.npr.org/2024/11/28/g-s1-36142/australia-social-media-ban-children
Fun fact about David "Danny" Blanchflower: he was famously involved in the court case Blanchflower v. Blanchflower long ago. My advice to him in that case would have been, to quote a famous sitcom, all you need is a better understanding....and a bigger bed. LOL.
Amen to that! Very well-said as usual, Mike. If social media were anywhere even remotely near as horrible as they claim, the hyperventilating social-mediaphobes of the older generations would want it banned or heavily restricted for ALL ages. Or at the very least, they would perhaps declare a state of emergency and "quarantine" it for "just two weeks" (right!). Unless, of course, they are hopelessly addicted to it, lol. Either way, it's really NOT flattering to them at all.
(Mic drop)