Moderating smart phone use in youth is likely a better way to deal with this as there are a growing number of studies linking mental health problems in youth and smartphones. there is push to ban phones from schools in many jurisdictions. ironically parents are the ones mostly against this. and out side school hours, parents gotta parent.
Sometimes "parents gotta parent" is a cop out. But I think it's a good conclusion, here. The state can't fix every ill — it should focus on what it can do well. Education, business regulations, etc.
I have parent friends. I understand that policing kids online activity is not an easy task. that final comment was trite. There is definitely a conversation to be has around societal vs parental responsibility for raising kids.
Excellent piece. I recall when the demon lived in comic books. There is cause for grave concern in the production of porn content —- the degree to which performance is consensual. Children, never. Desperate people because of social-economic-psychological circumstances also need protection from exploitation. A more complicated challenge, but no less relevant.
I had a stack of other great examples I considered mining for this dispatch. I'm particularly fascinated with the 'crime comic' panic that took place in the early 20th century. They were technically banned in Canada from 1948 to 2018.
And you're totally right. Figuring out how to create some kind of standards for the industry in the pre-internet era was hard enough — now it's orders of magnitude harder. But it will only be made more challenging if we attempt half-cocked ideas like these age gates.
These kinds of conversations are still difficult for me, after hearing decades of discussion about porn. From "It's normal and healthy", to "It's obscene and unhealthy". All I really know for sure is it's different for girls.
There's no doubt it's a difficult and tricky conversation. And we're probably overdue to have it in a more serious way. But I think these age-gate measures really boil down to an attempt to avoid that conversation altogether — to put up this flimsy gate, clap our hands, and say "job well done."
And you're right that there's a gender lens to this that really bears focusing on. Better sex education that takes into account those challenges is sorely needed — and it's lagging.
Very thorough! Thanks for this. It's a complex issue certainly as part of techno communication systems generally. Technology has enabled 'supply chains' to now be the business model. It's like the 'paper-boy' is now the retailer in charge of the paper, rather than the editor/writer & printer. (No disrespect to paper-boys intended)
Thanks Justin, another great delivery to my inbox. Have you considered this topic as a series on your podcast, or even an in-depth episode? This is a topic that will spark interesting conversations. Thanks for sparking the flame.🔥
Moderating smart phone use in youth is likely a better way to deal with this as there are a growing number of studies linking mental health problems in youth and smartphones. there is push to ban phones from schools in many jurisdictions. ironically parents are the ones mostly against this. and out side school hours, parents gotta parent.
Sometimes "parents gotta parent" is a cop out. But I think it's a good conclusion, here. The state can't fix every ill — it should focus on what it can do well. Education, business regulations, etc.
I have parent friends. I understand that policing kids online activity is not an easy task. that final comment was trite. There is definitely a conversation to be has around societal vs parental responsibility for raising kids.
Oh I know! I was entirely agreeing with you, even the triteness.
Excellent piece. I recall when the demon lived in comic books. There is cause for grave concern in the production of porn content —- the degree to which performance is consensual. Children, never. Desperate people because of social-economic-psychological circumstances also need protection from exploitation. A more complicated challenge, but no less relevant.
I had a stack of other great examples I considered mining for this dispatch. I'm particularly fascinated with the 'crime comic' panic that took place in the early 20th century. They were technically banned in Canada from 1948 to 2018.
And you're totally right. Figuring out how to create some kind of standards for the industry in the pre-internet era was hard enough — now it's orders of magnitude harder. But it will only be made more challenging if we attempt half-cocked ideas like these age gates.
These kinds of conversations are still difficult for me, after hearing decades of discussion about porn. From "It's normal and healthy", to "It's obscene and unhealthy". All I really know for sure is it's different for girls.
There's no doubt it's a difficult and tricky conversation. And we're probably overdue to have it in a more serious way. But I think these age-gate measures really boil down to an attempt to avoid that conversation altogether — to put up this flimsy gate, clap our hands, and say "job well done."
And you're right that there's a gender lens to this that really bears focusing on. Better sex education that takes into account those challenges is sorely needed — and it's lagging.
Definitely agree on providing age-appropriate sex education.
Very thorough! Thanks for this. It's a complex issue certainly as part of techno communication systems generally. Technology has enabled 'supply chains' to now be the business model. It's like the 'paper-boy' is now the retailer in charge of the paper, rather than the editor/writer & printer. (No disrespect to paper-boys intended)
Thanks Justin, another great delivery to my inbox. Have you considered this topic as a series on your podcast, or even an in-depth episode? This is a topic that will spark interesting conversations. Thanks for sparking the flame.🔥