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693 points macawfish | 6 comments | | HN request time: 1.301s | source | bottom
1. poly2it ◴[] No.44545174[source]
A bit of a rant on the topic of digital supervision and age verification:

Speaking personally, parent supervision was detrimental to my development as a child. I recently reached the liberation of legal adulthood. While my parents are often sweet, their intents did not always have the desired consequences given how they were enforced. Until I was around 15, I didn't have any computer I was able to freely tinker with, which wasn't constantly supervised and constantly logged my every action. I wasn't allowed to touch a shell. This was troublesome for me, because I was a computer science enthusiast, and my parent did not want me to learn about programming. If I had developer tools open, or if it seemed like I was running a script, I would get questions. I was pretty much restricted to using Scratch (which has a fantastic underground community!). Yes, I spent quite a bit of time on my computer. In my defense, I didn't have any friends where I lived. Not that I didn't want any, I had tried, but at this point I was torted by bad experiences. My computer was my safe haven and where I had my friends. I did try to explain this, but my parent wasn't sympathetic. Expecting a joyous and present individual who should be out playing with friends, I was a failure. My parent never understood my need for digital freedom, even as it in hindsight was all I craved. This is the type of scenario I see playing out again every time I am reached by bills/news/opinions like these. If my parent had put half of the energy they use to keep me bound into supporting my personal development and our relation, things could have been very different. Instead, I became very good at avoiding filters, supervision and going unnoticed. It's quite a sore to me. I sympathise deeply with all the children who had a similar upbringing, who are going to suffer under the regulations in development, both in the US and in the EU.

replies(1): >>44546228 #
2. mixmastamyk ◴[] No.44546228[source]
Obviously, there’s a difference between access to programming materials and the unethical majority of the internet.

I had access to the former at about 12 but no access to the internet until age ~23. Was about perfect.

replies(1): >>44546368 #
3. poly2it ◴[] No.44546368[source]
When did you grow up?
replies(1): >>44548221 #
4. mixmastamyk ◴[] No.44548221{3}[source]
Why is the comment downvoted so much? Am GenX.
replies(1): >>44548857 #
5. BoiledCabbage ◴[] No.44548857{4}[source]
Not having access to the internet during childhood 30-40 years ago is very different than not having access to the internet as a child now.

I think most people are taking your description of your experience being positive as a recommendation - one that is very unrealistic in modern times.

replies(1): >>44552485 #
6. mixmastamyk ◴[] No.44552485{5}[source]
I’m describing a utopian ideal yes.

I still think the open internet is not a place for children today. People forget the surveillance aspect, not to mention the other dozen negative aspects.

It’s easy enough to download things for their local use.