Blogger’s Note: It was the older generation who invented the technology that gave birth to the internet – which was a tremendous scientific step forward. The UK invented it – the Americans exploited it. The Soviets might have invented a version of the internet if the USSR had lasted long enough – but it is well-known that President Clinton “shared” US internet technology with Socialist China during the 1990s (although China claims it was developing its own version). Due to poverty, not all people around the world can access the internet – and so their consciousness remains in a pre-internet, or semi-pre-internet state of being. This is how poverty effects access to the internet. Many countries possess little or adequate infrastructure technology for their population to access the internet – with what access is available being so unreliable or unaffordable – so as to make access untenable. Where economies are well-developed, children have been brought-up since the 1990s to be computer and internet literate.
In fact, I was taught “key-boarding” (on manual typewriters) from the late 1970s at school in the UK, and started using electric typewriters and word-processors from the early 1980s. Therefore, developed States have been conditioning their young population since the 1970s to be computer literate and to depend physically and psychologically upon computer technology. Since 2010, touch-screen and ipad technology has moved on and caused a much stronger cementing between young minds and the available technology. This is why I thoroughly disagree with any arbitrary form of Statist “banning” of technology that negatively affects the well-being of young people – who possess no political ability to fight such a ban. Such a ban is cruel, and counter-productive. Indeed, I believe such a ban is a form of child abuse – as when a young person is forcibly separated from their devices – very real psychological and physical pain is experienced. ACW (14.10.2025)
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-10-14
MELBOURNE, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — Australian researchers are launching a study to monitor the impact of a world-first social media ban, to take effect on December 10, on teenagers’ phone use, screentime, mental health and wellbeing.
The Connected Minds Study, by Australia’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and Deakin University, is seeking 13- to 16-year-old teenagers who use social media apps and their parents to share their experiences before and after the restrictions take effect in December, according to an MCRI statement released Tuesday.
Under the legislation for the ban, which passed the federal parliament in December 2024, all age-restricted social media platforms must prevent under-16s in Australia from creating or keeping accounts.
Companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to enforce the ban will face fines worth up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (32.15 million U.S. dollars), the legislation said.
“Some evidence links social media use to adolescent mental and physical health, but a clear cause-and-effect relationship hasn’t been proven,” said MCRI Professor Susan Sawyer.
The study will help inform whether blocking social media is effective at changing adolescents’ phone use patterns and improving their mental wellbeing, based on feedback from young people and their families, Sawyer said.
Participants will complete surveys before and after the ban, with an optional two-week app study tracking social media use, sleep, physical activity and feelings on social connectedness, the statement said.
“Uniquely, our study will objectively measure social media usage, rather than just relying on self-reported use,” Sawyer said.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 