From the BBC – Australia plans social media ban for under-16s.

This little item raises a couple of interesting questions.

The first of course is the issue of banning something a gubmint disagrees with. I have an instinctive negative reaction to the word “ban”. It reeks of the Nanny State whose reaction to any perceived problem is to introduce a ban. However in this instance I do have conflicting thoughts. I am indeed concerned about the shit that is out there on anti-social media. I am concerned to a degree about the Grandkids and the stuff they may come across. However I think the correct thing here is to educate the kids and teach them to question everything they read and not to take anything at face value. This is the method employed by Daughter and I think it’s the sensible one.

The second question is perhaps more interesting.

How? How exactly are kids to be banned? What mechanism can possibly lock out the under-16s?

I know a little bit about web technology [*cough*] and I cannot think of any method of screening by age. The method that is commonly used is the “Are you 17 or over?” button on a web page. This of course is as useful and reliable as a fart in a gale. Just about any and every method relies on complete honesty. I have heard of methods whereby a person has to produce a passport or something similar. Again this is unworkable as kids would easily find a workaround. In fact any method of verification has loopholes and I can guarantee won’t keep the smart kids out.

I wish the Aussies luck with this one.

Or maybe I don’t.