[duskdozer]

I don't think we have to accept that "kids on social media" is inherently a problem. I don't think kids on a 2005-era-myspace social media would be a problem. As I see it, "social media" is now defined as the highly addictive and exploitative products from Meta et. al., and we shouldn't have to destroy any semblance of free or private internet so that they can't be hindered in any way from making the maximum amount of profit and influence regardless of the harm it causes kids (and adults, too).

[Mezzie]

We've basically accepted the premise as a culture that exploiting adults is fine. Exploitation is so heavily baked into our culture that pushing back on it would cause too much upset.

If you're below 18, you deserve protection. Above 18? Good luck, babe.

I think one of the unintended consequences of age verification is going to be a whole host of unprepared 18 year olds getting full access to social media and getting absolutely one-shot by it. Think credit card sign ups on college campuses or predatory car dealerships near boot camps. There are going to be a lot more 18 year old boys gambling away their student loans and 18 year old girls signing up for OF, but it'll be fine, because they're 18! Not to mention they're going to be scam targets on the level of the elderly. And if you're exploited/scammed as an adult, it's your own fault.

Age verification/restriction without an educational component of some sort is just creating a future cohort of extremely vulnerable young adults for companies and bad actors to sink their teeth into.