[prokopton]

We age gate other things that are genuinely useful but can be harmful when used incorrectly or with malice.

Given how much trouble you can cause with an Internet connection, I’m surprised this hasn’t happened already.

[themafia]

> We age gate other harmful objects: firearms, alcohol, driving, et cetera.

We can easily prove those have harms.

> trouble you can cause with an Internet connection

Why don't we age gate hands? Number one source of human problems right there. Perhaps we should outfit our children like Harrison Bergeron until they reach the age of majority?

[mlrtime]

Hands are part of your body. Pornhub is a commercial website distributing age-restricted content. We already require ID for buying alcohol, cigarettes, and lottery tickets without it being a constitutional crisis. Requiring age verification to access porn isn't a First Amendment issue any more than carding someone at a liquor store is. This comparison makes no sense.

[array_key_first]

Pornhub is always age gated everywhere in the world. Because internet access typically involves you to prove you're an adult.

Just like the liquor store, verification happens at point of sale. Past that, all bets are off.

If I got buy a beer, verify my age, and then go home and give it to a kid, there's nothing anyone can reasonably be expected to do about that. Similarly, if I buy internet access, and then turn around and just give it to my kid, there's nothing anyone can reasonably be expected to do about that.

We don't expect the store clerk to follow you home and watch you drink the beer.

[stackghost]

>Why don't we age gate hands?

Making this sort of reductio ad absurdum doesn't make you seem witty or clever. It just makes you seem pedantic and unable to reason about things like a functioning adult.

[ndsipa_pomu]

I don't think you're adding anything to this discussion with that kind of comment.

The idea of age-gating hands is to demonstrate that overly broad age gating IS ridiculous and the lack of sufficient targetting by Texas is precisely why the judge is throwing it out.

Please try to engage with commenters with a little bit more respect and hopefully better understanding.

[antonvs]

That might be the case if they weren't correct. I notice you didn't actually say anything about what's wrong with the point.

[stackghost]

Do I really need to waste my time explaining why age-gating hands is not feasible, realistic, or even worth considering?

Really?

[antonvs]

You should look up the word "analogy".

Do I really need to waste my time explaining why age-gating the internet is not feasible, realistic, or even worth considering?

Really?

[jswelker]

I thought it was witty and clever.

[Cytobit]

Ad hominem attacks can't be much better.

[bevr1337]

Internet service is age gated by the provider and the prerequisites like a physical address and bank account

[toast0]

If you've got cash, you can go to Walmart and setup a prepaid cell phone with internet access. No ID or address required.

[nine_k]

Human bare hands and teeth can be lethal if used skillfully. I wonder why isn't operating them age-gated.

Speaking can do a lot of harm, from emotional distress to swindling a victim out of millions through a scam.

World's safest place is a solitary confinement cell. It comes with some downsides though.

[droopyEyelids]

> I wonder why isn't operating them age-gated.

It is! Have you met a baby before... no teeth, severely diminished strength and muscle control

[Waterluvian]

It would be like age gating a library.

[paulryanrogers]

Kids cannot check out adult materials. Nor can they attend a library alone until middle school. (At least around here.)

[Waterluvian]

I guess the already normalized lack of liberty shouldn’t surprise me anymore.

[Spooky23]

Where do you live?

My son got his first library card at 5 and walked over there by himself when he was 6 or 7.

Middle school is way too late to build good reading habits. What a shame.

[paulryanrogers]

I live in the Midwest US. Plenty of kids can and do walk to our library. Though younger ones who come alone are questioned for their own safety.

[ctxc]

Surely you must see the difference between what is a utility and...firearms and alcohol?

[k12sosse]

Age gate positions of power, that is, you can't hold them after you're 55

[nine_k]

It's discrimination, should be 65 like everywhere else.

Seriously, I won't limit the maximum age, but would rather use a cognitive ability assessment. It in fact already exists, e.g. as the TV debates for presidential candidates. Were the voters paying attention,..

[paulryanrogers]

Isn't the median like 65 already? Seems like it's closer to the minimum.