Well, who knows what they will be doing if it is not Tiktok. Hopefully they will pick up a book, but doubtful. They need a way to communicate with their peers.
I'm not seeing how this stops kids from communicating with their peers. That seems like a bad-faith argument as they can send an SMS, make phone calls, send emails, meet in-person, play video games, etc. The things many of us grew up doing with our friends.
Yes, I did those things in 2000. Except when I look at the city I grew up in, it is no longer safe for kids, and kids do not even go outside anymore, and I do not think social media is at fault here.
BTW SMS and phone calls cost money.
Sending e-mails was not a thing even when I was a kid, 25 years ago.
Playing video games, yeah well, that may be the only thing where they may communicate. Except that is going down in the shitters too these days. Say "shit" or "fuck" (especially) and get banned from chat for days.
> Except when I look at the city I grew up in, it is no longer safe for kids, and kids do not even go outside anymore
Which city? I ask because I am raising my kids in Chicago. It is far safer than when I was a child and I was under the impression that most cities are far safer. We also have plenty of kids playing outside in our neighborhood. I'm not saying you are wrong, but my lived experience is significantly different.
> BTW SMS and phone calls cost money.
That depends on where you are and what network you are using. That same would go for using social media sites which require internet connection.
> Sending e-mails was not a thing even when I was a kid, 25 years ago.
I was also a kid 25 years ago and we absolutely sent emails.
That's like saying every government should copy the new tariffs too. If only it was so simple...
> They’ll lose revenue in Australia.
Why is it always 1-way? Australia can also lose people and lose people's interest.