I was recently at a Hacker Festival in the Netherlands, and one of the things that I found neat was that there were plenty of kids there. There were activities on the timetable for kids, as well as spaces that were dedicatedly for kids. However, the event didn't feel like it was at all diluted for the sake of families — areas and activities intended more for adults still existed, as well as a general expectation for adults to be responsible and courteous when engaging in adult-only activities (such as drinking alcohol).

It felt like a cool model of coexistence that we don't get exposed to as much as we should in The Real World (TM). Whilst this openness towards the kids is partly for the parents, it's also cool for the kids who want to take part. For example, I remember that during a soldering workshop, I got talking to a boy sitting at my table — I think he was age 10-12ish. Whilst there was some level of me having to be mindful to be speaking with him in an appropriate way, this didn't prevent me from engaging with him as a peer; we had an earnest conversation about projects, and the usefulness of concrete goals; hobby burnout; and how much ambition is useful when you're learning a new skill. I wish I had more opportunities to hang out with kids in a capacity where I'm not actively in a mentoring role

Just like irl spaces for kids and teens have died out, too.

No money? No exist.

bring back miiverse

I believe this is from a combination of factors, including the lack of revenue streams from young site visitors and the necessary protections and moderation being expensive to create and maintain. It sucks, but with the modern Internet it won't exist for long if there's no money to be made.

This is the main reason I don't use tiktok, ever since its inception: It was meant as a space for young people and I don't want to be one of the jerks who intrudes on that.

Yeah, there's privacy concerns and brainrot pearl-clutching and all of that, but while those are legitimate, my number one reason for not using it has always been that I believe there should be spaces for young people online that adults don't mess around or intrude in.

don't forget prime which is an energy drink whose ads target primary school kids

Scratch was the social media site I grew up on. It's still around.

I still play Neopets every day. It's been excellent for my mental health and it's the most wholesome community I've ever been a part of.

Put aside the internet for a moment.

Kids and teenagers used to have more real spaces to go hang out at. Community centers, shopping malls, arcades, etc.

Not so much these days. And it’s sad.

I think kids should be exiled to kids only places. But the issue is, a few adults sneak in, and no adults guarding? R.I.P kids.

Isn’t this just called online video games? Basically what Neopets was.

Club Penguin goated in child safety. I remember certain servers limiting online speech to pre-selected options off a menu.

Have you not seen the internet? So many spaces aren’t even safe for adults. The scams are out of control.

Go on, tell me the last time you didnt have to say “DONT CLICK THAT LINK MOM” just to be sure they don’t click a very obvious scam. Or have a long conversation about VPNs prior to handling identity online. Or describe AI hacks to someone.

And here you talk like it’s so very easy to make it safe for children.

PBS Kids is a thing and has been for a long time

Roblox is not the same. I lose faith in humanity when I look at the front page of Roblox and see a bagillion people playing Brainrot Simulator.

That's because kids should be outside running around and having life experiences that teach them the things they need to be well-rounded adults. Make spaces for that. Dicking around on the internet achieves nothing.

Neopets still exists and is great though

I ain't buying this internet ID propaganda

Currently? I feel like it was years ago that Roblox's controversies came to the fore.

There used to be an all-Flash site called "poisson rouge" when my kid was a toddler, and it was absolutely awesome. Hundreds of educational games, bright, fun, animated...

Edit: was nostalgic, looked it up - seems they relaunched at some point! https://www.poissonrouge.com/play/

Yeah it’s called Roblox and they let all the pedofules join as well

Nah, fuck kids.

They'd better start learning what a fucked up world they've been shat into.

Get started on the depression as soon as possible so it doesn't come as a shock when they grow up.

Kids these days can't afford to play and be happy and not be traumatised. They've got to get ready to kill and eat each other in the water wars.