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The „actual problem“ is not limited to engagement driven social media. Your „I just don’t want it“ proves my point very well.


It is the problem, if you see platforms that are not driving engagement (like here) they are faring much better.

And no I really don't want it. Give parents the tools to manage better and make sure the worst toxic traits of social media are banned (the EU could do this under the DSA/DMA) and there is no need to ban it for all minors then.


There's a lot of age-restricted content in Internet and plenty of use cases where digital ID is improving security/UX. When you say "I don't want it" instead of talking about your specific concerns and how they could be addressed, that is nonconstructive position I'm talking about.


I think the way this thread went is a perfect illustration of why people just "don't want it" - you started off talking about alternatives that were anonymous, and now you're talking about digital ID for "security" or even UX. Because that's how things have gone in practice.

Privacy-respecting, free, even technically superior options are regularly overlooked in favor of invasive and locked down options. See how often phone 2FA is forced "for security" when generic TOTP authenticators or passkeys could do better. Also see how specifications around passkeys are being set up to eventually squeeze out free implementations in favor of Google and Apple.


Age verification is by definition not anonymous, so I could not start talking about such alternatives. Someone somewhere needs to know that you are you and your age, even in ZKP. Digital ID is the most sane way to build things today, so the real choice is in how it is implemented. And the discussion should be about that, not how we can stay back in the cave age.


Yeah it's just a few bridges too far for me. I don't care about improving those things (and UX will only get worse with extra checks)

I'm sure it will come but I will oppose and work around it as much as I can. I don't think age verification should exist at all.


Well, you can always create a trust bubble with your friends where it’s unnecessary. Content of private communications is unregulated. Anything serving broader audience needs checks.




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