[krschacht]

I don’t lock down my kids computer use. I know risks exist, but I think their unrestricted access to computers and the internet is far more beneficial than harmful.

I know I’m highly unusual amongst my friends. I’ve also found it odd that the more knowledgeable someone is about tech, the more scared they are of their kids using the internet.

But just like riding a bike and swimming in a pool are extremely dangerous, yet I encourage my kids to do both of these things and instead just educate them about risks. Similarly, I think the benefit-vs-risk of the internet is FAR better than a bike & pool, so I just educate them.

[tstrimple]

I've had a lot of luck with this approach as well. So much so that I struggle to relate at all with the paranoid posts I see constantly on HN. My children aren't tiktok zombies despite them being allowed to use tiktok as long as they want during the day. It turns out they have lots of other things they would rather be doing including reading and playing instruments and hanging out with their friends online and in person.