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Campaign to bar under-14s from having smartphones signed by 100,000 parents
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025
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This would be equivalent of not letting under-14s into libraries or read anything practically for that matter in 1900s. Phones are not just used for social media or gaming, you are limiting the conversation abilities, accessibility of information, and freedom
Luckily they're not banning tablets or laptops or tethering or even WiFi. Early teens should figure all that out in a jiffy.
problem is, among the items you enumerated, phones (usually) are the cheapest (not comparing flagship phones here, you can get good-ish entry level phone at 150-200 USD (I use one) and goodish laptops start around 300 (and even then it is mostly underpowered chrmoebooks, many of of which are not good), tablets (entry level) start at about the same prize of phones, but for a given prize, you would get other specs lower (they have to cut cost somewhwere, and larger screen costs more). Now, these tablets can serve as a carrier for information, but that would not be the most ideal solution.
Also, everything requires a phone number, and everyone just talks using whatsapp or some other phone-only application. You cant expect them to keep in touch without one.
Even though I would very much like for this to change, this is true, having a phone number is very important
This is, of course, what the Nazis want. And we can't let them get what they want
phones are made for mindless media consumption. just look at the home screen of a factory resetted phone. facebook, instagram, tiktok, and other literal garbage too is not just installed, but pinned to the home screen by default
That's an inconvenience to be sure, but cleaning all that crap from every device is just part of the ritual just like pealing the protective film off the screen.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeaaaahhhhh......
Inconvenience for us. but that's not my point. I'm pretty sure that really works for lots of people, who actually start using apps because it's on the home screen already.
I suppose you are right.
As an anicdote, my son has always curated his home screen, creating groups for related games (e.g. one group for the cut the rope series, another for hey duggee games) and removing icons he wasn't using so much anymore.
Then when my son was 4yo and his tablet ran out of space I taught him how to uninstall applications and that he could go to the play store and reinstall any titles I had previously appoved by himself. After that he could cycle though his library without any issues only needing my help if we were considering a new title.
A couple of months later my mum was having trouble with her phone because it was full, so she came around for a visit and my son showed her how to uninstall unwanted apps and manage her home screen.
So I guess this story reinforces that curating your device's software library is a learned skill.
that very much depends on manufacturer of the phone, not all manufacturer supliment the purchase price of phones with those bloatware deals, you can definitely find some good ones in a pile of dirt