Kids (With Phones) Are Alright
2 days ago
- #bystander-action
- #tech-policy
- #power-dynamics
- A video in Scotland shows passengers confronting a drunk man filming teenage girls on a train; he is a senior legal officer at Edinburgh City Council.
- The incident highlights how current tech policies often blame and restrict young people instead of holding perpetrators accountable, contrasting with the bystanders' support for the victims.
- Authoritarian internet regulations, such as smartphone bans for under-16s, are driven by affluent elites who oppose personal agency for youth, imposing their values on others through law.
- The video demonstrates real-world power dynamics, where working-class teenagers show resilience against privilege, and underscores why young adults need phones and life skills for safety.
- Personal reflection connects the perpetrator to the author's alcoholic ex-husband, illustrating insights into power, control, and privilege from lived experience.