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Comment by mrgoldenbrown | Hacker News Reader

Which platforms allow a parent turn off algorithmic content feeds?

iOS and Android allow you to completely block app installs on your child’s devices as well as does Macs and Windows computers.

I think mrgold was looking for a solution that didnt lock their kid out of the arcade, but just allowed them to minimize the exposure to gambling while allowing a social experience. Having control of, or ability to remove some algorithms would be appreciated.

what if I want my kid to be degenerate gambler at an early age (apparently this is all cool the USA, I mean gambling...) but don't want her to poison her brain with arcade games?

the answer here of course is very simple, you teach your kid what she is or isn't allowed to do "online" just like you do IRL. and you verify by either sharing the account so you can see what is being installed and/or checking the device...

parenting ain't that complicated...

You do you i guess. But we have decided as a society that childen do not have the full list of rights as adults. And in most cases, there is still leniency as well. You might think its fun getting shitfaced with your 6 year old, but society has said no. Now your 16 yr old has a glass of wine under your supervision? Well no one is going to be locking you up.

Is this method of parenting that you are advocating for working out okay for you or do you not have children?

Myself, I am childless and I do not like KOSA as I am unwilling to give up the anonymous internet to keep the kids safe. At the same time I do think there is room for some regulation here.

I am a parent and strongly believe that it is my greatest pleasure in life and greatest responsibility to be a parent. I am advocating very simple parenting method - I do not want fucking government to dictate what books my kid car read, what they can do on their devices (if they have them) etc... this is my job, not governments

I’m with you on that. I think all of this should be mandated in a way that allows parents the choice and the tech companies the choice to operate for children or not. Now if you are advocating that the govt overreached when it banned cigarette companies from airing commercials during children’s cartoons… thats a little to far on the libertarian train for me. I don’t think regulation around the type of algorithms they can use around children is not worth investigating. Advertising choices and algorithmic implementation incentives do not seemed align with childhood development and I worry the feed them to the wolves approach won’t work out well for either side.

You already have a choice - parental controls on devices. Anything else requires age verification and you giving your ID to random websites.

I don’t think regulation around the type of algorithms they can use around children is not worth investigating.

The problem - especially in USA is that whoever is in power when the "regulation" is added - whatever that regulation is - will be 100% political thing. And say 50% of people will not be happy about it. The power shifts, we either scrape or put other "regulations" in place to make the other 50% of people happy - ad infinitum... I am against regulations mostly because they are never about "protecting kids" or whatever the "spirit" should be - they are always political in nature (e.g. your kids should NOT read these books nonsense...)

I’m sure they also want the government to allow their kids to go to strip clubs and only see breast and butts without seeing vaginas…

the bible jesus has all the features you need

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