Should Teens get banned from Smartphones for SnapChat

[TheAnimus]

I didn't want to use that media portmanteau or texting and sex, just couldn't bring myself too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25917314

This MP is suggesting banning children from using smartphones because they might be distributing child porn.

Which brings me to the question, is such a connected device almost a human right now? What would such punishment serve?

If you've got two children who are exchanging indecent images of themselves in a totally ephemeral manner, then frankly that should be embraced. Much less change of pregnancy or STIs. Teens are such bags of emotion trying to understand what they want from life, how other people work, how to interact, what love is. Having a ten second flash, so they've something to think about during playtime is hardly a problem, it's as if these people deny that children ever masturbate or do so thinking about their peer group, which is surely more healthy than over the fake impression of a celebrity.

If anything the punishment should be entirely for those who break the ephemeral nature of these messages. Keeping kids chatting, putting their views in something that is so ephemeral is such a good thing, much better than putting on facebook or similar, where it will be stored immutably, for eternity.

Creating a culture where breaking the trust of someone sending you a dirty picture by distributing it, provides more shame for the person who forwards than the 'victim' who trusted the other person, I would suggest is the key.

So what do Hexites think? I am guessing no one here is in the ban phones today group!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Maybe parents need to communicate better with their kids first??

[DanceswithUnix]

Isn't the problem with these things that the images can be captured and stored?

[jim]

The problem with Snapchat is how many people fail to understand that as soon as you've transmitted something, you have no control over it whatsoever. The idea that a company is going to keep you safe because they promise to delete something, whether in 10 seconds or 10 years, is ludicrous. The sooner people appreciate that, the better.

As for the article, more generally, it's absolute nonsense IMO. Banning kids from using smartphones? How exactly do you intend to police that? Should we all have to apply for smartphone licences, and be subject to stop and search if we're suspected of using an unlicensed phone?

Sharing of inappropriate pictures is already illegal, not least in many cases as CP. So why would we need new legislation? Perhaps if people were charged with the criminal acts they're committing, then others might become more aware of how damaging, or at the very least how risky, what they're doing is.

[Dooms]

Indeed. Nothing stopping you screenshotting the snap except giving the sender a notice saying it happened, and there are apps to get around that.

Meh let them be. Teens with teens is fine, I mean just looking back to being 14-16 it was all about exploring. It only becomes an issue in my books when you have adults trying to get said pictures.

Plus life is all about making stupid mistakes

[TheAnimus]

Isn't the problem with these things that the images can be captured and stored?

Indeed, 70% wouldn't know how, 25% would only know how to do it via a 'screen shot' which will trigger the protection in the app, sort of, it will also notify the sender you did that.

There are two issues really.

1 - Kids want to explore their sexual desires.

2 - It isn't guaranteed to be ephemeral.

The first bit frankly I think is fine, if a two 14 year olds want to swap naughty pics with each other, then go for it, it isn't as if they don't masturbate. The problem is helping them understand number 2, learning to trust is a key part of learning to love. You can't really create a technology that is completely fail-safe in this regard, you can however make it a concerted effort to bypass. If you have done that, then surely it is down to reminding people, it isn't acceptable to bypass.

[mikeo01]

You can't exactly control kids to protect them from the "big bad world". Kids have enough restrictions as it is.

Your not allowed to do this, your not allowed to do that. Just let teenagers find their own way.

I think as soon as you start treating teenagers as too young, your basically saying "We know better than you" which quite frankly effects that person's life and behaviour I believe.


Besides, it's the way you bring them up in my opinion. I know I do not have children of my own just yet but I'd feel that I'd want to feel responsible and bring them up right.

Inappropriate pictures are already illegal. But then again who can stop technology moving forward? Shouldn't the developers think a little more about this? I've never used SnapChat, we already a camera phone that takes pictures and MMS to send those images so why do we need a "global" image sending app? There's so many useless apps out there which can be used for inappropriate content so why on earth were they created in the first place. Two sides of the argument.

[Saracen]

Who defines "inappropriate" pictures, though, Mike? And most porn isn't illegal, though there are categories that, clealy, are.

As for just letting teenagers find their own way, I think that's just abnegating parental responsibility and duty.

BUT .... the way I'd handle a 13-year old and a 16-17 year old would be different. Whatever us done, though, I doubt outright bans will work. Kids always have, and no doubt always will, find ways of getting round parental restrictions or, indeed, government bans. Are young kids allowed to buy alcohol? But did it ever entirely stop them getting it? It sure as hell didn't entirely stop me.

Trying to completely prevent kids getting whatever on a phone might work with the very young, but as they get older, it'll fet less effective, so a more grown-up way of dealing eith them is needed.

After all, nobody is actually a child one minute, passes a magical age and is suddenly a mature adult .... even if the law currently reads rather like that. In realuty, it's not all white, then suddenly all black, but rather, a graduated greyscale.

As for snapchat, I'm (by choice) a social media luddite. I don't even use Twitter, Facebook, etc, so snapchat? Phoeey.

[wasabi]

Nanny state should leave people alone. Nothing more than I'll show you mine if you show me yours with a fresh lick of paint.

[peterb]

It comes down to education - but teenagers are not particularly aware of the long term risks.

There is also an interesting legal conundrum, firstly is copyright - should any one posting an image of themselves via any intermediate service retain the copyright of that image, many T&Cs explicitly claim distribution and/or copyright to the images for themselves - effectively the same as a photographers release form.

Secondly, there is an offence of possession (and distribution) of indecent images, so any company retaining or distributing those images may be committing an offence under UK law - and many other jurisdictions provide for similar offences. But, how does that apply to a teenager who may take an indecent image of themselves, which they possess, and then distribute?

I am not a lawyer, so I don't know the answer to that, but I know the law on possession was changed to specifically exempt law enforcement officers working on cases, and the forensic investigators, from prosecution because they were technically guilty of the offence of possession.

Nanny state should leave people alone. Nothing more than I'll show you mine if you show me yours with a fresh lick of paint.

Well yes and no - but in some cases "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" has landed some teenagers (under 16) in trouble, and in some cases entries on the sex offenders register. Usually, it has to be said where there is an element of coercion, or a wide discrepancy in age.

But it is more that "YSMYAISYM" because the images may be stored and redistributed, so it become, 2You show me yours, and I'll show it to the world" - whether you expected or intended that to happen.

[Lucio]

Who, at 16, had a good understanding of consequences? That the choices you make at that age can actually affect you in totally unpredicted ways?

You can't stop or control people from doing what they want to do, the only approach that works is to arm people with as much available and relevant information as possible to make an informed choice.

The lessons you see on FB from time to time, where a teacher (or Russian hackers depending on your paranoia levels), asks people to re-distribute a photo are a good start.

[HalloweenJack]

showed this thread to my teenage son earlier and he laughed ` wow these old people haven't got a clue`


he then showed me how to save everything from snapchat and others.


if were way behind teenagers , then mp`s are last milenium

[Biscuit]

Maybe parents need to communicate better with their kids first??

I'm struggling to understand the amount of discussion on this thread that doesn't involve this essential point. We don't need the government trying to do our jobs as parents, we need to take control of our children's safety ourselves.

[TheAnimus]

showed this thread to my teenage son earlier and he laughed ` wow these old people haven't got a clue`


he then showed me how to save everything from snapchat and others.


if were way behind teenagers , then mp`s are last milenium

In which case you should question his reading comprehension, everyone acknowledges how it's possible to break outside of the SnapChat jail.

The point we are making is that it should be considered immoral to do so. When I was a 13 year old toe rag, I considered any virtually digital protection to be a mere annoyance (most where in those days), and reading other peoples emails, userping them etc was just fair game. It's about helping kids realise that view isn't acceptable.

Granted, some people never grow out of that way of thinking. I've known anarchists who find it wrong, when to prove a point, I steal their drink.

[HalloweenJack]

In which case you should question his reading comprehension, everyone acknowledges how it's possible to break outside of the SnapChat jail.

ORLY?

lets look at your own quote above:

Indeed, 70% wouldn't know how, 25% would only know how to do it via a 'screen shot' which will trigger the protection in the app, sort of, it will also notify the sender you did that.

70% wouldn't know how......

not quite ` everyone` is it.



you really have limited understanding about today`s teenagers do you. I am holier than thou will get you laughed at. frequently.

[g8ina]

Keep it nice guys.