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Comment by antonvs | Hacker News Reader

It’s not just “social media”. Any site that’s funded by advertising fits that description.

But there are also other requirements in section 201 for a "covered platform", which advertising-funded sites that aren't "social media" most likely don't meet. For example, a typical personal blog, even if it shows ads, doesn't meet subsection (C), because its primary purpose is not to share user-generated content (e.g., comments by readers)--it's to share the blog author's content.

(HN itself doesn't meet at least one other requirement besides subsection (E): subsection (D), "Uses a design feature to promote user engagement on the platform".)

Only if it's targeted.

True, but in practice, the vast majority of advertising-funded sites use targeted advertising, because they use standard ad networks. There are very few ads networks that don’t do targeted ads.

Right but if we could kill that business model by making platforms chose between age verification and non-targeted ads, that would be a win right?

That's not so say I'm in favor of age verification, just pointing out the silver lining.

You're assuming that platforms that tried age verification in order to show people targeted ads would lose enough users to make that business model no longer viable. While I would fervently like to believe that's true, I'm not so sure it is. I think there might well be enough people who will hand over their personal identifying info without a second thought in order to continue to use targeted ad-supported platforms, to keep them in business. I hope I'm wrong.

I don't think it'll come down to people being too principled to participate. I think I'll come down to them being too lazy to bother completing the auth ritual.

Hm, yes, laziness is also a powerful force... :-)

Yeah, but you could also kill that business model without any legislation by simply... not visiting those websites.

I already don't, and yet I still have to deal with the fallout from its harmful effects on society. More drastic measures are needed.

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