Manitoba will ban youth from using social media and AI chatbots, Premier Wab Kinew announced on Saturday.
The proposed law protecting youth from the harmful effects of social media will be the first of its kind in Canada.
The premier said the platforms are intentionally designed to get people “addicted to the infinite scroll,” contributing to mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
“They’re doing these very awful things to kids all in the name of a few likes, all in the name of more engagement, and all in the name of money,” Kinew said at an NDP fundraising gala in Winnipeg on Saturday night.
“More money for a group of rich tech bros who already have a ton.”
Social media use among youth has been linked to health issues ranging from reduced sleep and attention to long-term mental health issues, but academics say more study is needed to establish causes.
The biggest problem with these bans is that not only do they fail to keep kids out, they also likely serve to absolve these corporations of liability for the harm they cause our youth. They are a mistake.
I’m split between “fuck age vérification” and “fuck AI”
Why not both?
if only these big companies actually cared for kids and didnt design this stuff to be addictive for kids just to make money off them.
Yeah, ideally they would just kill each other
“More money for a group of rich tech bros who already have a ton.”
So is ID-gating access to online stuff. If this crap is so toxic, then regulate it. And why don’t we care at all about its effects on people above 16 or 18 years of age?!
The effectiveness of the method might be questionable, but at least the reason is a good one
It’s Wab Kinew so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that his intentions are noble and good. Presumably he acts out of ignorance, led to a policy he doesn’t understand by people he shouldn’t have trusted. He probably thinks the only consequences will be that children aren’t allowed to use social media and AI any more.
Presumably he acts out of ignorance, led to a policy he doesn’t understand by people he shouldn’t have trusted.
that’s like the textbook definition of the NDP. Honestly had hopes for this guy but now? same song and dance from the NDP.
I disagree with censorship and believe we should always try our best to get to the root cause, not put temporary bandages on things. What’s next, the government saying “we will protect you”? That’s an old story.
ok Kinew and who are you contracting out to do all this? “more money for a group of rich tech bros” sorry Wab but SOME rich tech bros are going to get richer with this decision of yours. Companies like Meta aren’t lobbying for this crap just out the pure goodness of their hearts, there’s a reason behind it. there’s a lot of money to be made behind it.
The premier didn’t say the age the province is considering for the ban, how it will be enforced, or a timeline for when it would be implemented. He didn’t speak to reporters after his speech.
Just more NDP bullshit of “we have an idea, we have no idea how we’re going to do said idea, but we’re going to move forward on said idea based purely on hopes and dreams” I had hopes for Wab but stuff like this just shows the NDP still haven’t learned anything.
