Banning Things for Other People Is Easy

Child-Only Bans vs Universal Regulation

• Many readers see the core point as: it’s politically easy to “do something” by banning things for non-voters (children) instead of regulating adults.
• Others counter that different rules for children are not hypocritical but fundamental: adults are allowed to harm themselves; children are presumed unable to make informed choices.
• Some agree in principle with “ban it for everyone or not at all,” but still think starting with children is a practical first step.

Analogies: Alcohol, Cigarettes, Gambling, Vaping

• Long subthread on alcohol laws in Europe: children can legally drink in some contexts but generally cannot buy; adult supervision and practical access limitations matter.
• Several argue the article’s alcohol/social-media analogy fails: alcohol is physically harmful and regulated for adults; social media mostly isn’t.
• Gambling and cigarettes are cited as things banned for kids and regulated for adults; some note that youth bans helped reduce adult smoking.
• Others stress that “X is less bad than Y” (e.g., vaping vs smoking, or social media vs TV) isn’t a strong defense of X.

Harms, Addiction, and Nature of Social Media

• Many comments accept that social media is psychologically addictive, deliberately optimized for engagement, and harmful especially to children’s mental health.
• Debate over the state of evidence: some claim there are “enough statistics” showing harm, others say most work is correlational and causation is unclear.
• One strand emphasizes algorithmic design (fear/rabbit-hole dynamics, supernormal stimuli) as the real problem, not just screen time.

Children’s Vulnerability and Social Context

• Multiple comments stress distinct child factors: immature impulse control, brain development, inability to assess long-term risks, and limited agency over their social environment.
• Because of network effects, an individual parent’s ban can socially isolate a child; policy-level restrictions might shift norms instead.

Effectiveness of Bans and Alternatives

• Some think bans “never work” (drugs, prostitution analogies) and advocate culture change, education, and stigma first.
• Others point out bans on sales (e.g., cigarettes for youth, drunk driving laws) do reduce harmful behavior; suggest “it’s not either-or” with education.
• Alternative proposals include: regulating algorithms, limiting ads (especially gambling/junk food), promoting decentralization/federation, and teaching “social media literacy” in schools.