this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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Whether it be social media use or access to pornography, are there valid studies that have looked into this? I feel like I've only seen anecdotes, or "inappropriate for children", but no evidence, studies, or journals to support this claim.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Do you mean certain types of age verification, or any type at all?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The question is what is the evidence based justification for the strict verification that is being pushed. The efficacy and implementation is a different question entirely.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

So you don't mean age declaration "please insert your date of birth to access this page" type, but the government ID type?

Efficacy, risks and invasiveness are all related to justification imo.

Here's one that compares each model and rates them: https://edri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Online-age-verification-and-childrens-rights-EDRi-position-paper.pdf

Is that similar to what you're looking for?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

But your Efficacy, risks and invasiveness, are predicated on the need. If there is no need, the secondary discussion becomes redundant.

And I'm not saying there isn't a need, but I would like evidence to support the need.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Yes like that. I'll have to dive into the sources presented.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

So I looked into this source and its references. I will simply point out the group itself is a conservative think tank and most of the sources are the same.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

What would be an example of something empirical that would justify age verification for social media use or pornography? Ultimately aren't these at worst empty / arbitrary moral panics and at best the realm of moral debate?

That is, you can't take observations and turn them into a normative system ("is" doesn't give you "ought"), so what exactly are you thinking can be studied here?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

I'm generally opposed to strict verification. To me the only thing that could justify it is a repeatable study that shows causation between something that the verification would restrict and a negative (not moral panic negative) outcome. Whenever its brought up the "think of the children" comments come out and I am skeptical. It often sounds like video games cause violence excuses. I wanted to know if there was actual justification because to me it seems like they are usually pushed by either religious groups or some group that wants to hoover up data. I have yet to see something beyond moral panic justifying the push.