So you can just log off to bypass it? That seems short sighted.
Nobody knows. The government hasn't determined how the age verification will work. A good guess will be that it will require age verified accounts for anyone in that country to access content on those platforms... or a VPN.
Anything that moves the needle toward dismantling the advertising and marketing industries will always be a worthwhile endeavor.
Advertisements are targeted on a number of factors. It’s not a simple checkbox that says “market this to teens”
Let's not act like the only way to communicate with each other or use the internet is through corporate controlled software.
It would do teenagers good to be forced to use other forms of social media that aren't controlled by companies that don't care about their mental health.
We the people are vanguards of our own freedom. Always assume a government organization is lying to you about their intentions. We're taught about slippery slopes in civics and history class for a reason.
The true intent here is to control the ability for teens to freely congregate online and contribute to discussion around unsanctioned topics. To prevent teenagers from being exposed to or distributing material that challenges the incumbent authorities.
No one has twisted Mark Zuckerberg to make something that profits off of misery, he's more than capable in making something less harmful and not getting banned. If you don't like Zuckerberg replace him with who you do like, it's the same story.
I also trust democracy and democratic institutions. The ability to destroy something is completely democratic and should happen by the people with things prove harmful.
What I don't trust are actors who engage in advocacy that is always anti-democratic in nature.
How can you do that on the internet?
What Australia did may be a bit shortsighted but it's a step in the right direction together. Other countries did all sorts of measures such banning smartphone use in classrooms and such. We will figure out what works and what does not, but at least something is being done.
Well to upload YouTube videos you obviously need to log in.