Australia’s parliament has passed a law banning social media for children under 16, putting tech companies on notice to tighten security before a cut-off date that’s yet to be set.
Unlike in the past, current-day teenagers are less technologically competent than older people. The vast majority will not be able to figure it out, especially those who were using TikTok as a search engine (I wish I was making this up).
Gen-X and older mostly had computers come into their lives during adulthood. It’s something they had to force themselves to be familiar with.
Millennials grew up with Computers. Most of us had the Internet by the time we were tweens/teens. We had to learn shit as it was created. We remember all the weird little iterations in tech, and know lots of ways to use a computer. We had to know how the computer worked to use it!
Gen-Z and younger grew up immersed in fully corporatized technology. The iPhone turns 18 years old next year - there’s not a child alive who remembers a time before the iPhone. Nearly every computer they touch was designed to be as easy to use as possible.
While many of us remember running “install.exe” files from floppies to install software in DOS, kids now literally just browse a bunch of colorful icons with “install” buttons beside them.
I grew up in a world that prioritized computers for learning. We now live in a world that prioritizes computers for entertainment and profit. I used to have to go out of my way to find community online, now I have to go out of my way to escape the largest, most corporately controlled communities online.
And they expect that a 16-year-old won’t figure that out…
I guess we’ll see what happens.
Unlike in the past, current-day teenagers are less technologically competent than older people. The vast majority will not be able to figure it out, especially those who were using TikTok as a search engine (I wish I was making this up).
You are correct.
Gen-X and older mostly had computers come into their lives during adulthood. It’s something they had to force themselves to be familiar with.
Millennials grew up with Computers. Most of us had the Internet by the time we were tweens/teens. We had to learn shit as it was created. We remember all the weird little iterations in tech, and know lots of ways to use a computer. We had to know how the computer worked to use it!
Gen-Z and younger grew up immersed in fully corporatized technology. The iPhone turns 18 years old next year - there’s not a child alive who remembers a time before the iPhone. Nearly every computer they touch was designed to be as easy to use as possible.
While many of us remember running “install.exe” files from floppies to install software in DOS, kids now literally just browse a bunch of colorful icons with “install” buttons beside them.
I grew up in a world that prioritized computers for learning. We now live in a world that prioritizes computers for entertainment and profit. I used to have to go out of my way to find community online, now I have to go out of my way to escape the largest, most corporately controlled communities online.