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No age gate South Africa

@noverifactionsa.bsky.social
45 followers 26 following 268 posts

Keeping south Africans alert on age verification, assurance technology. #noagegate #notodigitaldompas #no2digitaldompas #noverificationsa #savespeech

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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
So ... it turns out that according to official army regulation, people under 18 ARE banned from witnessing an execution, but I guess the government is deeming to waive that in the interest of propaganda. armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pub...
2-5. Witnesses
a. The following individuals and representatives are authorized to be present at the execution:
(1) The CMDT, USDB.
(2) A representative of the PMG or ACC.
(3) A sufficient amount of USDB cadre comprising the EWT, as deemed appropriate by the CMDT for security purposes, and to ensure professional military conduct of the execution.
(4) Execution team members.
(5) The prisoner's counsel of record, if requested by the condemned prisoner.
(6) A minimum of two media representatives, selected under the direction of the OCPA from a pool of media representatives requesting to witness the execution and their CPA appointed public affairs escort (s) .
(7) Representatives of the condemned prisoner's Family, if requested by the prisoner.
(8) If the condemned prisoner was a member of the Army National Guard at the time of the offense, the governor of the affected State or Territory or the Commanding General of the District of Columbia, if affected, may designate a representative to be a witness.
(9) The victim (if surviving) of a death-qualifying offense or its attempt, a relative (spouse, children, or parents) of a victim of a death-qualifying offense or its attempt; or, in the alternative, one representative of the victim of a death-qualifying offense or its attempt as designated by the victim (if surviving) or the victim's Family. Upon request, the CMDT, USDB may authorize other victims to be present.
b. No person under the age of 18 shall witness the execution.
c. The CMDT, USDB, will approve the list of witnesses (less news media witnesses) .
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Fight for the Future @fightforthefuture.org · 07/10/2026
With VPNs “Germans can bypass controls on "hate speech",the Chinese can work around restrictions on Winnie the Pooh memes, and people in places like Utah can ignore intrusive age-verification rules.” So this is great news reason.com/2026/10/07/f...
reason.com
Federal court slaps down Utah's VPN restrictions
A judge blocked a rule that would have required adult sites to block VPNs or age-check the world.
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Thoughts from South African youth on social media bans and the SABC's coverage. Once again no cross referencing to international developments or updates on Australia Age verification (They are mentioned every time, but zero updates on how its going).
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Utah wanted websites to verify the actual, physical location of visitors and force them to identify VPN users. The controversial addition to the state's age-verification law was suppose to go into effect next week, but a District Court judge struck it down at least temporarily.
techradar.com
Federal judge strikes down Utah's controversial VPN age verification rules
A major win for digital privacy as courts rule that state-level age verification laws cannot mandate the tracking of encrypted web traffic
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
FluxFur @fluxfur.com · 27/09/2026
WE'RE TEMPORARILY OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!!! Register HERE: fluxfur.com/register?reg... We welcome you to our pro-furry, pro-kink, pro-LGBT Fluxer instance, FluxFur. Thanks for checking us out. Hop on in quickly, before registration closes!
fluxfur.com
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Considering @discord.com does not respect sovereign countries on the position of social media bans. The better option long-term is not negotiating its leaving for other platforms and hosts that don't seek to negotiate/invade their users/peers privacy. Love seeing more options in the chat sphere.
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Yeet Kune Do @yeetkunedo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
@discord.com I see now why age verification started rolling out, fuck this and fuck you for doing this
special reward available for fanduel in discord, because what discord needed was ads for predatory online gambling, fuck discord and everyone that works in their company leadership
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It was never about child safety even when a sovereign country explicitly says we are not doing social media bans they proceed. bsky.app/profile/nove...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
We did all the things Campaign Email breakdown misinformation actively reach out to legislators after year of this we get a definitive NO and they still did it. and no one in government seems to even care. Even when its known they went ahead So no Discord is making an active choice 10/10
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A year of campaigning and a signed letter answer saying "NO" Know 📨we need to email the committee: www.parliament.gov.za/committee-de... 📨Contact the information Regulator: inforegulator.org.za having to demand our rights be enforced and ask why this happened bsky.app/profile/bett... 9/10
parliament.gov.za
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies - Parliament of South Africa
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Those that want calmer heads say: "Discord is being compelled to do this" "Discord is being forced by government policy to implement this" "talk to your governments and legislators" We did and we got them to change their minds and say "NO" They did it anyways 8/10 bsky.app/profile/nove...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
After accessing and playing with access on the browser no setting touched it eventually allowed access on the mobile version. But lets think about that. One format says(mobile) "Verify" the other(browser): "you are an adult, this does not effect you" Meaning people right know are verifying 7/10
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
But when we observed mobile it said you need to verify whenever we entered an adult channel. It was actually startling how it went from "Sorry, you're not old enough to view this age restricted channel" to "Age verification process here" again on browser it said I am an ADULT 6/10
"you do no have access to this age-restricted channel" "you do no have access to this age-restricted server" ,"You must be over a legal age in order to view age-restricted servers. Learn more about our age verification process here"
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The entire time we checked it was mobile, but mobile updates for Discord are often less consistent than desktop/browser. But here is what the browser said. new prompts on account : "Age group" (was not there till 20 min after midnight) Browser said I am an adult 5/10
"Age group" confirms "Adult""age groups determine if you can access content and settings meant for adults, You're in the adult age group (18+),so nothing changes for you"
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
for the whole of day of 23 Sept we checked if it got flagged and we still had access to all channels. We check again SA time just past midnight. "Sorry, you're not old enough to view this age restricted channel" NO prompts to verify yet. 4/10
"Sorry, you're not old enough to view this age restricted channel"
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Over the past few month a team member volunteered their Discord to test and see if adult signals could be sent. Adult channels were joined with a combination of SFW, recovery and Pornography/Role play. This was to send signals the account was an adult. It was also a 7+ year account 3/10
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
@discord.com Announced they would be launching age verification on the 22nd of September. Whoever on the 4th of September South Africa's Minister of communication and digital technology Solly malatsi said no South Africa would not be doing a social media ban. 2/10 bsky.app/profile/bett...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Identity verification struck a team member, or so it seemed. A thread on what should not have happened, happening. Identity verification in South Africa despite the fact it should not only not have been implemented here, but the lack of spine from government to do anything. 1/10 🧵
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/nove...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
For those looking for what was said bsky.app/profile/nove...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/nove...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"Our goal is to enable creators to publish their materials to the appropriate audiences without needing to remove materials completely, so it can remain a safe and reliable service for both users and creators." Filters already exist to allow this. Its the same story on every website.
@ Wasabiato on twitter (know X)

With screenshot showing filter options

"terrible response. what’s the purpose of this setting if it doesn’t actually do anything. on top of that, why isn’t refund given for those who spend clippy points or better yet gold that cost real world money when a material is removed/deleted?

do better"
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
What is happening with clip studio? Looks like they might be potentially be bullied into compliance by payment processers similar to the Steams and Itch .ios adult games getting massive purges. "This includes plans to strengthen the system to include age restrictions" potential Age verification?
- We are working to update the service so that you can re-download materials you have already purchased or downloaded even if the original listing has been set to private. We appreciate your patience while these updates are underway.
- You can continue to use materials that you have already downloaded in personal and commercial artwork even if the listing is removed, unless it was removed for copyright issues or a serious rule violation.

Clip Studio Assets has a community of diverse users of many age groups, regions, and cultures, each with varying attitudes toward what is considered sensitive content. Increasingly, we must consider who is viewing such content and how it is presented. Moderation decisions are made on the basis of keeping the platform safe and universally accessible, with no intention to reject artists’ creative expression. However, as the Clip Studio Assets service currently operates on a binary choice between displaying content to all users or removing it entirely, there are cases where we are required to private materials or require modification before re-posting.

We recognize feedback from creators expressing that it is difficult to tell which specific elements are affected and how to modify materials for re-publication. We will provide clearer explanations in light of any changes to evaluation criteria, along with more concrete examples to make it easier for creators to check their materials before posting.

To support a wide range of creative expressions while ensuring user safety, we are working on ways to improve Clip Studio Assets. This includes plans to strengthen the system to include age restrictions, regional controls, and user preferences. Our goal is to enable creators to publish their materials to the appropriate audiences without needing to remove materials completely, so it can remain a safe and reliable service for both users and creators.
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
to pay killing upstarts and those that cant afford to scale. There is also something deeply undemocratic and troubling about being locked out of resources, media, information because you don't wish to doxx yourself or pay for the right to be treated like an adult. That create tiered systems. 7/7
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
When safety becomes a business modal its no longer about safety its rent collection. It morphs frameworks into ones that only allow for middle man services like credit card providers, KYC middle men and governments looking for new untapped revenue source. Planting incumbents who can afford - 6/7
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The most troubling and biggest reason to not have 3rd parties do age verification is it know creates a market incentive that will fight to assert itself even when shown to not work. This also perverts legislation as the government may use AV services as a revenue source and not for safety. 4/5
"Digitising ID systems in particular has created the potential for a new business modal"
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Then there is a fact a majority of South Africans are black this ads another mess as biometric scanners have frequently been shown to fail when scanning darker faces. 3/7 www.mozillafoundation.org/en/blog/faci...
mozillafoundation.org
Facial Recognition Bias: Why Racism Appears In Face Detection Tech
Facial recognition tech routinely performs worse when attempting to detect Black and brown faces. Why do face detection tools struggle with dark skin?
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Considering 37.9% of South Africans are under the poverty line (23.2 million people) this effects options for AV - No access to credit cards - South Africa has high luxury taxes for tech and consider biometric scanners need quality cameras this locks out a substantial amount of people. 2/7
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
As part of researching for our campaign we will rebut this from a South African POV. - Many parts of SA run on cash based systems and peer to peer lending so many people dont use Google,Applepay or Paypal. - Debit cards are the most used purchase item after cash so - Less banks more stokvels 1/7
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Evan Greer @evangreer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Congratulations. You’ve now forcibly associated everyone’s online speech with their government name and purchase history. And your system doesn’t work because teenagers can have debit cards. Next
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A reminder South Africa is not pursuing social media bans and have publicly declared so. This was on the 4th of September Discord is global, they would know we are not doing this(if they are compitent) "they are being compelled" stops when being compeled is no longer there bsky.app/profile/bett...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/bett...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Argument: "Discord is being compelled by governments to do this" 4 September South Africa: "we will not be doing social media bans" 22 September Discord: "we are launching global age verification" They are making a choice, a big one. Overriding governments is crazy bsky.app/profile/nove...
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Rona Altana @ronaaltana.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Discord finally confirmed for real when they're rolling out age verification service-wide (tomorrow) and I've not seen a single person make a peep about it
discord.com
Safer for Teens, Same Discord for Adults
We’re launching a revamped, privacy-focused age assurance solution including methods that won’t require an ID or selfie. Here’s how it works.
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/nove...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Discord is launching its Global age verification service. "We've chosen to launch our stronger protections for teens everywhere using the most privacy-preserving approach we could build, including where it isn't yet required by law" No mentions on countries being exempted like South Africa
More than 90% of you won’t be asked to confirm your age. Since our last post about teen safety, we've had to launch age assurance solutions in more places, including Texas and Brazil. Laws requiring age assurance are expanding around the world. Rather than waiting to be told how to do it, we’re launching our own privacy-preserving approach: one that reflects your feedback.

You can check your age group status at User Settings > Account Status. We've estimated your age group automatically from account signals like how long your account has existed or the kinds of servers you're a part of. We don’t look at your messages, calls, or other content. We're launching this over the course of this week, so it may take a few days to reach your account.

If you're in the adult age group (18+), nothing changes. If you're in the teen age group (13-17), you can keep messaging friends, joining voice calls, and participating in non-age-restricted servers, but with additional safety protections that block age-restricted content, spaces, and settings. Otherwise, Discord works the same.We've added several new ways to confirm your age, including some that don't require an ID or selfie (including credit cards). If you're an adult but weren't automatically placed in the adult age group, you can confirm your age group at any time by going to User Settings > Account Status. More on the new options below.
‍
Credit Cards. You input your card information, and k-ID routes the details to Stripe to confirm the card is owned and authorized by an adult. Neither k-ID nor Discord ever sees the card details. Stripe saves the last 4 digits of card numbers after the check because of their legal obligation as a payment processor. A small temporary charge may be placed to confirm the card is valid, which is then refunded within 14 business days.

Apple App Store. Allow Apple to share your age range with us to help determine whether you're an adult or teen. Your exact birthdate won't be shared, only your age group.

Google Play Store. Allow Google Play to share your age range with us to help determine whether you're an adult or teen. Your exact birthdate won't be shared, only your age group.

Google Wallet. Confirms your age using the ID pass already set up in Google Wallet, based on your passport. Your ID details stay with Google. (Currently Google Wallet only support passports from Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK, and the United States.)

AgeKey. A reusable age credential you set up once and can use across various services, so you don't have to reconfirm on multiple platforms.
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
These are the parents being courted when discussing/advocating for Age verification. More survialance on youth under the cover of saftey. bsky.app/profile/heaw...
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The difficulty of removing age verification is not just explaining the policy and it issues, but combatting bad talking points from the media. They never invite privacy experts/advocacy.The panels always end the same ,with reporter and speakers agreeing on bad policy,talking points and definitions
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
9. preview message check for grammar, spelling, word choice phrasing and look for any redundancies or anything that seems to add fluff. 10.hit send you should receive this:(image attached) 11.Done,know email the committee members by email with the same arguments, same on social media 7/
message after completing message

"Thanks for your message

It will appear on the site once it has been approved by the site admins"
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
7. Name (you can use a false name, real name,pet name ,new name,dead name etc ) Just pick what you want to be addressed by. Avoid handle names as it might have to be read in discussions by the committee and by onlookers 8.Email,choose which email you want a response from (it accepts alliases) 6/
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
❌Please don't crash out or yell, The letter is on a public forum, avoid hyperlinks try and engage with your point as a stand alone argument. You dont have to be overly nice, you can express your frustrations, but express what you wish the committee to do. 5/
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
6. Subject: keep it short and understood what is the topic examples: - Why South Africa should reject Age verification - Public comment on rejecting Age verification - I call upon the committee to reject Age verification and the reasons why Body: short to the point can be re-read easily 4/
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
How to write using the peoples assembly. (This applies to Committees) 1.Go to the people assembly website 2."Find my representatives" 3."Find by committee" 4. Under committees "National Assembly Committees" 5. Under Communications and Digital Technologies ,"Write a public message" 3/
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
its best to email Mps, directly vice your concerns on their social media and then use the peoples assembly to show visibly and publicly what your concerns are. example of a published message short makes it clear what they want easy to re-read questions have context with a structure to answer 2/
Last week (at time of writing) Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi addressed a comment to MP Kobe (action SA) in regards to, if a potential legislation for a possible social media ban for under 16'swas being considered to which the Minister said:

No.

As someone who has been campaigning about the privacy, surveillance and constitutional issues of restricting youth access to information, I and members arguing against were glad a leader in a time of global panic to restrict youth access to platforms could see it was not working.

The issue is the Draft whitepaper (audio and audiovisual media services and online safety) Still has a proposal of Age verification, the thing that would have been used to power a social media ban. I am also concerned if other platform's acknowledge South Africa's position on age verification and wont simply overwrite it and deploy it anyways.

I have 4 questions for the department.

1. With the department formally saying they wont be pursuing a ban has the department informed platforms like discord, Reddit, Roblox, OpenAI etc who are pre-emptively making international age verification systems (the same used for under 16 bans) and launching them internationally to exclude South Africa from such age verification practices and respect our digital sovereignty? if not this would be the same as an under 16 ban just without the department authorizing it, effectively making the Ministers comment toothless/leaving South Africans to give up data not knowing they shouldn't be prompted to.

2.Will the provision for Age verification be removed in the next draft of the audio and audiovisual whitepaper draft?

3.If it will be removed can a rationale be outlined why it was removed for further deliberation for others discussing age verification in their respective regions, as this is an international discussion

4.If it will be kept could the department give a rationale why it is keeping it as a proposal

Dankie
have a good day
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
For people emailing the communications and technology committee one can use the peoples assembly website. (its not as efficient or as guaranteed as directly communicating/sending to MP's on their emails/social media) 1/ 🧵 pa.org.za/write-commit...
pa.org.za
People's Assembly
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
- what about Roblox currently age verifying in South Africa already? This statement is hollow without follow through and vocalizing South Africas position to platforms. Alot of work in the background as well as pushing has gotten us a minister who can see the winds,we just need to seal it.💪🇿🇦
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Fight on It's not over answer for the following are needed. -Will the proposals for Age verification be removed from the Audio visual whitepaper? -Discord plans a world wide Age verification system how will the department address this after making a clear statement they will not pursue this? 1/2
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Evan Greer @evangreer.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Haidt has no home here* *in serious discussions about youth mental health and regulation of technology
techdirt.com
Jonathan Haidt’s Claims On Kids & Tech Crumble Under Scrutiny From Top Expert, Candice Odgers
Jonathan Haidt’s incredibly well-timed decision to surf on the wave of a moral panic about kids and social media has made him a false hero for many parents and educators. In my review, I noted that…
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Reposted by No age gate South Africa
Center for Democracy & Technology @cdt.org · 08/09/2026
“Kate Ruane, director of the Center for Democracy and Technology’s Free Expression Project, which advocates for speech protections online, said verification would put burdens on speech.”
rollcall.com
Social media debate shaken up by Meta settlement
Those who’ve fought on Capitol Hill to rein in social media platforms see last week’s settlement between Meta and state attorneys general not as a final destination, but as a roadmap to what’s possible. Privacy and First Amendment advocates are worried they’re right. The settlement comes as the House and Senate have taken divergent paths […]
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No age gate South Africa @noverifactionsa.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Not only is this deplorable and cruel it's harassment. With Age verification legislation and anti social media bans in fulls swing the argument is that the platforms facilitate the harassment and emboldens people to send cruel threats. This is by email EMAIL It's not not the platform,but person.
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