If you live in Mississippi, you may have noticed that you are no longer able to log into your Bluesky or Dreamwidth accounts from within the state. That’s because, in a chilling early warning sign for the U.S., both social platforms decided to block all users in Mississippi from their services rather than risk hefty fines under the state’s oppressive age verification mandate.

This consolidation of power is a dream come true for the Big Tech platforms, but it’s a nightmare for users. While the megacorporations get more traffic and a whole lot more user data (read: profit), users are left with far fewer community options and a bland, corporate surveillance machine instead of a vibrant public sphere. The internet we all fell in love with is a diverse and colorful place, full of innovation, connection, and unique opportunities for self-expression. That internet—our internet—is worth defending.

  • themurphy@lemmy.mlEnglish
    0·
    12 days ago

    Hopefully, in the EU at least, the verification will be provided by the government. Like a 2FA, meaning Big Tech would only get a verified token and nothing else.

    The government already got passports with our face, and have had it for many years. They could use that information.

    That would mean that any platform could implement this verification, and never get hold on any data.

    Best case in a shitty scenario, I know.

    • lime!@feddit.nuEnglish
      0·
      12 days ago

      one of the big problems that isn’t solved by this is what gets to be behind verification. who decides what kids aren’t allowed to see. we’ve seen already that most of the world’s governments can’t really be trusted with what is adult content and not.

      • HertzDentalBar@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        0·
        12 days ago

        When I was in highschool my friends parents had child lock bullshit on his computer, poor sod couldn’t even goto wikipedia because there are articles with naughty words.

        This shit is real slippery slope shit.

        • HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
          0·
          12 days ago

          We need to reframe the discussion from “it’s for the children” to “it’s for lazy parents”.

          People are keen to scapegoat parents, and here it’s the truth. They don’t want to use existing opt-in controls, or put the damn computer where they can keep an eye on Little Timmy while he uses it. Make the entirery of the legal system do it for you!

          • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
            0·
            12 days ago

            Ok, so I also hate the “protect the children” argument, and there are certainly plenty of lazy parents around.

            However, if everyone 10 year old at school has a phone and a Facebook account, it’s just so much more difficult for parents who are not lazy to hold the line. Its an extraordinarily difficult situation. You’d make your kid’s a pariah by upholding a basic standard of care.

            By prohibiting access for kids you set the basic societal standard. Yes it will be circumvented but you enable parents to uphold appropriate restrictions.

            Is it worth it? Probably not. Its not a good thing but as a dad I can see the intention.

            • HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
              0·
              12 days ago

              I’m surprised there isn’t more of a crowdsourced solution-- community maintained block/allow lists and pluggable tools.

              Part of the reason filters suck right now is that they’re sold to turboprudes and people pushing compliance solutions that will placate litigious turboprudes. So you get blocking all of Wikipedia and .edu/.gov because three pages have an anatomical diagram of a breast. The kids are frustrated, normal parents have to keep unblocking legit stuff, and nobody wins.

              If you could pick from easily managed lists sponsored by groups you personally trusted, with responsive appeals systems, people might be more willing to use them.

              The ad-blocker ecosystem has a lot of precedent for how to work this stuff.

            • That Weird Vegan@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
              0·
              12 days ago

              “protect the children” is such a fucking bullshit excuse. If they gave a fuck about children, they’d stop them being slaughtered in schools every fucking day.

        • 4am@lemmy.zipEnglish
          0·
          12 days ago

          Don’t worry, soon enough all the SMUT will be eliminated and only the good word of the LORD will be on-line. The solution to all our problems!

          (/s if it wasn’t obvious)

    • Prox@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      12 days ago

      No. There’s no “hopefully” anything when it comes to this bullshit. It’s bad for the individual, full stop. This is not a thing to compromise on, because any compromise at all will eventually harm the users (though leaks/hacks, or government overreach, etc.) without any actual benefit or offset to them.