Online Safety Bill - Thoughts?

[stonerblue]

Instead of banning all social media for kids, have you tried actively parenting them Instead?

How do u do it?

 

[stonerblue]

Is this ANOTHER thread on something that Nigel has just said?

Chippers 'thought of the week'..

 

[Chippy_boy]

The age verification will be outsourced to a separate company who will act on behalf of many different websites, so once you are in their database, you will have access to any site that utilises that particular company.

Apart from the sites that don’t use such a facility, but instead ask for e.g. your credit card details.

 

[BlueHammer85]

It was the Tories that wrote the legislation but well done Labour lol

not the same bill that Farage is screaming about though is it ?

 

[TinFoilHat]

Access to porn being used as front to remove being anonymous on the net.

For example;

This law requires verification on websites/media channels that maybe showing evidence of atrocities caused by a country your government might want to suppress.

 

[Chippy_boy]

When I started this thread I was unaware Farage had said anything. I just heard about the new restrictions on the news this morning and I thought I’d seek opinions on here.

I started out thinking what’s the point since it won’t work, and at the same time could be problematic. But having read up a bit and also thought about it, my views have changed.

I’ve always accepted that *something* must be done, and IMO clearly this isn’t it. But on balance it’s better than nothing and maybe will prevent some kids from seeing damaging material so probably best we keep it until something better comes along.

HOWEVER. I have a MAJOR problem with what the government has classified as illegal material.

When the government says, “The kinds of illegal content and activity that platforms need to protect users from are set out in the Act, and this includes content relating to:”

…

• racially or religiously aggravated public order offences
• illegal immigration and people smuggling

This has no place in this legislation. At first I was thinking this is not a big deal, but on reflection it really is. We cannot have a situation where news agencies may be prevented from reporting about immigration issues or e.g. angry mobs outside migrant hotels.

I am seriously wondering if the government has sneaked this in, specifically to suppress such news.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Access to porn being used as front to remove being anonymous on the net.

For example;

This law requires verification on websites/media channels that maybe showing evidence of atrocities caused by a country your government might want to suppress.

That would be a huge improvement. People would have to be accountable for their actions and postings. Their companies would also be able to see what they’re really like and the rhetoric would change immediately.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I did say that it wasn't cutting off all routes. I've got a child in this age group, and know a lot of his friends, and frankly there's no way most of them get round this easily - and despite what a lot of adults think about kids, they're not all super evil geniuses. Little barriers can make a difference.

There's also no way that most kids are desperate to view things like self-harm material, when they google "feeling down", but the current situation easily leads them down that path. If they have to now jump through a hoop, that will give pause to a lot.

What sort of phones have they got? You might want to check how easy or not it is to switch VPN on. Or to install Proton VPN. On many phones it’s trivially easy.

 

[BlueHammer85]

When I started this thread I was unaware Farage had said anything. I just heard about the new restrictions on the news this morning and I thought I’d seek opinions on here.

I started out thinking what’s the point since it won’t work, and at the same time could be problematic. But having read up a bit and also thought about it, my views have changed.

I’ve always accepted that *something* must be done, and IMO clearly this isn’t it. But on balance it’s better than nothing and maybe will prevent some kids from seeing damaging material so probably best we keep it until something better comes along.

HOWEVER. I have a MAJOR problem with what the government has classified as illegal material.

When the government says, “The kinds of illegal content and activity that platforms need to protect users from are set out in the Act, and this includes content relating to:”

…

• racially or religiously aggravated public order offences
• illegal immigration and people smuggling

This has no place in this legislation. At first I was thinking this is not a big deal, but on reflection it really is. We cannot have a situation where news agencies may be prevented from reporting about immigration issues or e.g. angry mobs outside migrant hotels.

I am seriously wondering if the government has sneaked this in, specifically to suppress such news.

Oh give over, this isn’t suppression against media to not report about Migrants and riots you desperately seek - it will still be the rage on GB News and co all over the internet.

This is predominantly to do with harmful shit like suicide techniques, violent content and extreme porn that is being fed to our kids.

 

[TinFoilHat]

That would be a huge improvement. People would have to be accountable for their actions and postings. Their companies would also be able to see what they’re really like and the rhetoric would change immediately.

I get that argument and agree with that.

Using it for suppression of truth is my concern.

 

[BobKowalski]

Apart from the sites that don’t use such a facility, but instead ask for e.g. your credit card details.

There are many adult websites that already charge a fee to access content via membership or PPV, and they will often use a third party billing provider like Epoch or CCBill, who also have an age verification service. Paying for adult content via credit card or even PayPal via Epoch is common practice. Age verification by credit card or debit card will be just as common especially if more countries roll out similar legislation.

 

[bluenova]

What sort of phones have they got? You might want to check how easy or not it is to switch VPN on. Or to install Proton VPN. On many phones it’s trivially easy.

I've got a computing degree, and for more than a decade had my own web development company, so understand the technical side :)

I've also got a child that's at Uni, and the other in the last year at primary. We've talked openly to the older one about these issues (and she's always been happy to discuss what her friends got up to), and I talk to the younger kid and his friends about tech and science. I also talk to other parents, and most take an active role in how their kids access the internet. Even if you're not checking phones, when you set any phone or tablet for a minor, they need a parents account for control, and many of the easy things we do, involve them having to get permission. While it's possible to bypass most things, most kids aren't actually that desperate to do something they know will get them in serious trouble.

This solution will also at least stop the accidental viewing of adult material and the gradual drawing in to self-harm/manosphere spaces, which is a large part of the problem.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I get that argument and agree with that.

Using it for suppression of truth is my concern.

I think the lack of anonymity would outweigh the suppression of truth as long as bots were banned too.

Once you’re name is associated as a bad faith poster, troll or an inciter, I strongly suspect that your real life experience would be very different.

 

[inchy14]

Instead of banning all social media for kids, have you tried actively parenting them Instead?

Is the correct answer. My 10 year old lad isn’t allowed a smartphone and has limited access on his iPad to stuff, no TikTok etc where as his cousins both have smartphones ( 6 and 11 year olds) and watch what they like.

No surprise which are feral fuckers!























And fucking rags.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I've got a computing degree, and for more than a decade had my own web development company, so understand the technical side :)

I've also got a child that's at Uni, and the other in the last year at primary. We've talked openly to the older one about these issues (and she's always been happy to discuss what her friends got up to), and I talk to the younger kid and his friends about tech and science. I also talk to other parents, and most take an active role in how their kids access the internet. Even if you're not checking phones, when you set any phone or tablet for a minor, they need a parents account for control, and many of the easy things we do, involve them having to get permission. While it's possible to bypass most things, most kids aren't actually that desperate to do something they know will get them in serious trouble.

This solution will also at least stop the accidental viewing of adult material and the gradual drawing in to self-harm/manosphere spaces, which is a large part of the problem.

Fair enough, it was meant as friendly advice. FYI, I have a Physics degree but worked as a developer in my early years.

 

[bluenova]

Fair enough, it was meant as friendly advice. FYI, I have a Physics degree but worked as a developer in my early years.

Physics? No wonder you're such a troublemaker ;)

 

[Chippy_boy]

There are many adult websites that already charge a fee to access content via membership or PPV, and they will often use a third party billing provider like Epoch or CCBill, who also have an age verification service. Paying for adult content via credit card or even PayPal via Epoch is common practice. Age verification by credit card or debit card will be just as common especially if more countries roll out similar legislation.

It's not the 3rd party verification services that concern me (the most). It's the dodgy sites that decide it's a great excuse to obtain credit card info themselves. It's criminals people need to be aware of, not law-abiding businesses.

I will not be handing my credit card details over to any such sites (or 3rd party verification sites) under any circumstances, and I would honestly urge others not to do so either.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Physics? No wonder you're such a troublemaker ;)

Indeed :-) I have to understand things from first principles!

 

[Chippy_boy]

Is the correct answer. My 10 year old lad isn’t allowed a smartphone and has limited access on his iPad to stuff, no TikTok etc where as his cousins both have smartphones ( 6 and 11 year olds) and watch what they like.

Good for you mate. I'm not a parent but would do the same were I to have kids.

 

[bluethrunthru]

The age verification will be outsourced to a separate company who will act on behalf of many different websites, so once you are in their database, you will have access to any site that utilises that particular company.

so it could have happened? Does this not compromise the process despite the assurances?