Comment by navjack27 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by navjack27 | Hacker News Reader

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I completely agree with it being an education problem and like... I treat my YouTube watching or online media watching in a way where I would make fun of myself if I allowed myself to be controlled by the thing so I don't allow myself to put myself in situations where I would mock myself if that makes any remote sense. I think it's silly to not be in control of the things that I feed myself digitally or otherwise. It is a state to be mocked. I don't want to call myself "some dumb nerd" so I don't allow myself to be called that by acting dumb. It sounds really maybe abusive but it might be a way to get under the skin of your child if you don't warn them about these things in a soft kind manner but in a way like "you wanna look like a dork with no control? You know while your friends do this stuff but like they don't have control. Don't you want control? Isn't that why you are watching this stuff? Because you have anxiety and you don't have control over things? So , why don't you take control and not watch the things that all of these devices and services serve you and go do something a whole lot better with your time?"

And what's your next move once you explained that and still find them "escaping" for hours in these meaningless apps? Do you have children? How many being teenagers?

Can you explain in a "soft kind manner" to an addict that they should just quit? You can fight it pro-actively or re-actively. I prefer the former as, at least, prevents the addiction from even forming.

Please identify a smoker in your close circle and explain in a "soft manner" to them how that thing causes cancer, lowers life expectancy, increases heart rate and all the jazz that we are sure of - scary stuff. Report back if they quit.

I cannot be in total control and I do NOT want that but, at least, I'm not putting cigarettes on the table myself because that's what this is.

- make it illegal to gather data/track/serve ads in apps for users -18

- make it illegal to offer microtransactions in apps for users -18

there, you fix half of the problems, no longer companies will make their app addictive to teens

then up to the parents to regulate screen time for their kids

> no longer companies will make their app addictive to teens

are you sure? why not leave these things out, make them addicted, and cash in once they turn 18

Do you not see how that would be an improvement within this logic?

So preamble: I agree mostly about the distinction you make between escapism and addiction. & I am a smoker. And I thank God I am not responsible for raising a child in today's world; kudos to you and all parents.

> Can you explain in a "soft kind manner" to an addict that they should just quit? You can fight it pro-actively or re-actively. I prefer the former as, at least, prevents the addiction from even forming.

This book is pretty much that: Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking Without Willpower.

This book was recommended by a family member who read it and immediately quit after she finished it and based on hearsay apparently many people have the same experience. Its apparent magical effectiveness is anecdotal but something to consider. Obviously you are not a smoker, but why not grab a copy from public library and analyze its approach.

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