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Discussion on: Are Anti App Addiction Policies/Laws the next big discussion in tech?

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georgecoldham profile image
George

I believe there are also xp restrictions after 3 hours of gameplay and laws about this already in place in China for under 18’s.

Have large tech companies not already started preparing for this and already build in tools such as screen time restrictions and parental controls?

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sarthology profile image
Sarthak Sharma

Yes, But not all of them. Also, this addiction is not only for kids but adults as well. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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georgecoldham profile image
George

Oh I completely agree. My point was that if there is any legislation regarding app addiction etc, it will have to be softly worded, there is not quantifiable measure for it. As such large tech companies will be able to dismiss doing the right thing with a wave towards their screen time reports and the like.

Games in many ways are an easy target as they are mostly, not productive, and incredibly time consuming. Banning/time limiting them is a quick fix to that issue but ignores the underlying problems. Put a time cap on social media? Hold on that is my social life/only way I have of contacting friends and family/business/professional profile.

I agree it will need discussed, but how can it be implemented in a way which doesn’t unfairly restrict access to the positives of the software?

Also sorry this went a bit off the rails, was something I have been writing a report on recently.

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sarthology profile image
Sarthak Sharma

I agree and know that Time Cap is not a long term solution and that's why we are having this discussion. 😊
So that we can find other effective ways or just stop implementing such practices in the first place.

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georgecoldham profile image
George

The question is, can you create a successful user centric product without it being addicting?

The only “non addicting” apps on my phone are those which provide a service (banking, setting, camera, etc). Everything else is only there because it has a value to me in one way or another. Most of which is entertainment/procrastination.

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sarthology profile image
Sarthak Sharma

Exactly, That's one should aim for. But as you said it hard as hell.

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frothandjava profile image
Scot McSweeney-Roberts

if there is any legislation regarding app addiction etc, it will have to be softly worded, there is not quantifiable measure for it.

Soft words and no quantifiable measures is a recipe for terrible laws. Law is a sledgehammer and will be used as such.