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Comment by mjevans | Hacker News Reader

I'd rather require 'Kid mode' devices _self identify_ as being in _kid mode_ and a two layer approach of websites which are known to be not 'kid friendly' identify as redirect to a kid-friendly resource.

Do not lock up adults on the Internet. Rather, keep the kids in the nanny's care in their own device context rather than on the wider network.

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I’m not sure that making kids identifiable as such to any random website is a good idea.

I agree with the parent here. If the device is designated a kids device by some means, websites can ensure no adult content gets transmitted and their data isn't mined for ads.

Why is anyone's data mined for ads? If you're going to make a kids mode flag that denies data mining effort, then just fucking make the don't mine me switch and open it to everyone.

“But my next Ferrari…”

And malicious sites can decide that the user is a promising target for grooming or scamming, etc.

Could you give an example of such an attack that is intractable in the status quo?

Well, currently ads can be targeted using user agents. This is analogous to that sort of attack, although less malicious. There are bad people who would target children if they could, so it does seem to fit with what you're asking. We create the means, and they will exploit it.

These could easily be ferreted out by synthetic agents scouring the internet and posing as kids.

Reminds me of the old joke about an app for finding local playgrounds being misused in that exact same way you are implying.

Sure, but we should still be able to have nice things, even if the one in a million weirdo exists.

Yep, I fully share your sentiment on this.

> I’m not sure that making kids identifiable as such to any random website is a good idea.

This is what any of the age verification proposals do, isn't it? You know who the kids are and who the adults are regardless of whether it's because you have the adults assert they're adults or the kids assert they're kids.

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