Australia passes social media ban for under 16s

[BlueHammer85]

Anything that gets kids off their phone is a "yes" from me.
It's becoming a real problem in our workplace. Many staff under the age of 35 are seemingly addicted and appear glued to the sodding things

Noticed a little girl on her Mums lap this morning on the train just staring whilst every adult sat/standing around in silence (including me) was glued to their phones, just a black mirror moment.

 

[mackenzie]

Noticed a little girl on her Mums lap this morning on the train just staring whilst every adult sat/standing around in silence (including me) was glued to their phones, just a black mirror moment.

To be honest, on the work commute years ago it would have been similar; except passengers then would have been reading the morning newspapers ( I know I certainly did).
It's when adults on desk jobs have them in the workplace and can't stop picking them up and looking at them that grinds my gears.
I'm old so I'm not addicted, but the younger colleagues definitely appear to be.

And for kids, social media isn't good at all. Anything that breaks that psychological addiction of picking up the mobile is a good move.

 

[BlueHammer85]

To be honest, on the work commute years ago it would have been similar; except passengers then would have been reading the morning newspapers ( I know I certainly did).
It's when adults on desk jobs have them in the workplace and can't stop picking them up and looking at them that grinds my gears.
I'm old so I'm not addicted, but the younger colleagues definitely appear to be.

And for kids, social media isn't good at all. Anything that breaks that psychological addiction of picking up the mobile is a good move.

Fair enough for sure, everyone’s glued to their phones in my office - only thing is I have my watsapp open on phone and all my contacts message me through that - so I’m one of those constantly on my mob in the office

 

[threespires]

Whilst I appreciate that there are many ills for which social media is partly or fully responsible, it should be left for parents to manage the who, what, why, where and when in respect of their children and social media.

I feel for young people. The generation who has effed up the world for them also seems to want to make their lives even more miserable. Leave them alone, for goodness sake.

I think one of the issues is that the generation of parents who need to address this now have, in many cases, got less clue than their kids about some of the dangers and issues and some are completely down the rabbit hole themselves.

 

[mackenzie]

Fair enough for sure, everyone’s glued to their phones in my office - only thing is I have my watsapp open on phone and all my contacts message me through that - so I’m one of those constantly on my mob in the office

Unless it's work related I'd probably have to kill you ;-)

Joking apart, as a smoker I know there's not just a physical addiction to smoking but a psychological one too; the picking up and handling a cig are all important factors, not just the actual smoking of it. I don't smoke at my desk though ;-) And my mobile stays in my bag, where it should be.

I sense the same addiction with phones.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

To be honest, on the work commute years ago it would have been similar; except passengers then would have been reading the morning newspapers ( I know I certainly did).
It's when adults on desk jobs have them in the workplace and can't stop picking them up and looking at them that grinds my gears.
I'm old so I'm not addicted, but the younger colleagues definitely appear to be.

And for kids, social media isn't good at all. Anything that breaks that psychological addiction of picking up the mobile is a good move.

My first phone was a Motorola MG2. By today's standards it was pretty shit. These days I can edit RAW files (photo's) on my phone.

Kid's these days can't put them down.

 

[mackenzie]

My first phone was a Motorola MG2. By today's standards it was pretty shit. These days I can edit RAW files (photo's) on my phone.

Kid's these days can't put them down.

I got my first smart phone about 12 years ago, had a text/call only mobile for a couple of years before that (can't remember which model though).
I was born in 1964 and my son was born in 1982. Whilst he is undoubtedly much more savvy than me with phones even he isn't addicted to his mobile.
We seem to have gone from knowing sod all about Tech, to being savvy and now addiction in some people. It's alarming how it has become a problem so quickly.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Unless it's work related I'd probably have to kill you ;-)

Joking apart, as a smoker I know there's not just a physical addiction to smoking but a psychological one too; the picking up and handling a cig are all important factors, not just the actual smoking of it. I don't smoke at my desk though ;-) And my mobile stays in my bag, where it should be.

I sense the same addiction with phones.

I'd say it's more likely to be boredom and the type of work people are doing.

 

[mackenzie]

I'd say it's more likely to be boredom and the type of work people are doing.

Nah. Not at my workplace. Always loads to do; it's just sheer addiction.
Only really seen it in the last 2/3 years or so.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I got my first smart phone about 12 years ago, had a text/call only mobile for a couple of years before that (can't remember which model though).
I was born in 1964 and my son was born in 1982. Whilst he is undoubtedly much more savvy than me with phones even he isn't addicted to his mobile.
We seem to have gone from knowing sod all about Tech, to being savvy and now addiction in some people. It's alarming how it has become a problem so quickly.

Tech companies pretty quickly learned how to keep people engaged with their tech. Those little message notifications are like crack cocaine to some people.

 

[mackenzie]

Tech companies pretty quickly learned how to keep people engaged with their tech. Those little message notifications are like crack cocaine to some people.

Aren't they just :-(

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Nah. Not at my workplace. Always loads to do; it's just sheer addiction.
Only really seen it in the last 2/3 years or so.

There may be lots to do but doesn't mean it isn't dull.

 

[mackenzie]

There may be lots to do but doesn't mean it isn't dull.

Agreed.
But if you are getting paid a half decent salary, and have some integrity, then stay off your sodding phone and actually do some work.
It's not hard.

 

[Manc in London]

I think one of the issues is that the generation of parents who need to address this now have, in many cases, got less clue than their kids about some of the dangers and issues and some are completely down the rabbit hole themselves.

Fair point mentioning parental failure but I do think it is a parental responsibility. Kids will find harmful stuff if they look for it. It will be strange that kids could access porn sites but not Snapchat.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Agreed.
But if you are getting paid a half decent salary, and have some integrity, then stay off your sodding phone and actually do some work.
It's not hard.

Maybe it turns out you have one of these:

In other words, there's plenty to do, but none of it is important enough for anyone to notice if it doesn't get done, meaning everyone can spend all day on their phone.

;)

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

 

[jitsubluedan]

How many 12 year olds are trying to promote their business?

This is the start of trying to eliminate or at least limit the social media use in children- many of whom commit suicide for the stuff they see and get fed from these platforms , anorexia , bullying, mental health all is happening to under 16’s because of social media platforms - Australia should be applauded for taking this giant first step.

Sounds like you want governments to shrug their shoulders and not do anything, shameful.

Lol, you always give dramatic replies to get as far opposite to what i post as you can

He’s not being dramatic; I recently watched ‘Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones’ which was shown on Channel 4 and its frightening how iPhones affect our children.

I’m grateful that smartphones weren’t the rage when my lad was a teenager. The second episode of the documentary shows how easy it is for children to access porn sites which present a skewed perspective to a child’s first views on sex.

 

[BlueHammer85]

He’s not being dramatic; I recently watched ‘Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones’ which was shown on Channel 4 and its frightening how iPhones affect our children.

I’m grateful that smartphones weren’t the rage when my lad was a teenager. The second episode of the documentary shows how easy it is for children to access porn sites which present a skewed perspective to a child’s first views on sex.

Careful, you'll be accused of bullying.

 

[jitsubluedan]

Careful, you'll be accused of bullying.

It’s a shame the documentary was on Channel 4 as coverage was far lower than if it had been on ITV or the BBC.

I encourage anyone with children who allow them to have smartphones to watch it.

It was presented by Emma and Matt Willis who also had to give up their smartphones along with the teaching staff.

The interviews with the parents who had lost children was heartbreaking; in both cases, they were boys from loving families who were leading normal lives. Social media sites and the content they allow to be posted have a lot to answer for.

 

[mancity111]

He’s not being dramatic; I recently watched ‘Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones’ which was shown on Channel 4 and its frightening how iPhones affect our children.

I’m grateful that smartphones weren’t the rage when my lad was a teenager. The second episode of the documentary shows how easy it is for children to access porn sites which present a skewed perspective to a child’s first views on sex.

Its just as frightening how iPhones affect some of the adult population.