[lukan]

"yet we don't let our kids run around with knives for example."

Actually some do. Boy scouts traditionally for example do not think, that kids are generally to be treated as idiots.

So yes, you do not give a knive to someone who cannot handle it. There are 20 year olds who should not be given anything sharper than a plastic knive. But a ordinary child usually can handle dangerous stuff - you lead them there, step by step.

Same with computers, smartphones etc. If neccessary, you can provide a locked down environment at first, with only approved apps and sites (or no internet at all).

But one day, they need to handle it all, without someone holding their hands. And they cannot learn it, if they always only navigated a locked down safe space.

[dalore]

Sounds like we agree. Given the right instructions and environment, tools are useful.

Handing out knives/computers/chemistry sets without training and unsupervised does not help.