Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> writes:

Cross-posted to Linux and Win-11 NGs

As may here would be aware, last December, the Australian Government
brought in Legislation to limit the access to "Social Media" for those
under 16 years of age.

Whilst I doubt there were many under-16's using UseNet, I have heard
some suggest that it is a "Social Media".

Facebook ... Sure!
X ... Sure!
Instagram .... Sure!
Youtube .... Some would suggest it is "Social Media", too.

... and there are probably others I can't think of or have Never heard of.

But is UseNet "Social Media"??

In Australian lawn, yes. The definition is given in https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024A00127/asmade/text section 63C and
Usenet clearly fits.

I think it would fit any reasonable informal definition of ?social
media? too.

--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:21:52 +1100, Daniel70
<daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:

Cross-posted to Linux and Win-11 NGs

As may here would be aware, last December, the Australian Government
brought in Legislation to limit the access to "Social Media" for those
under 16 years of age.

Whilst I doubt there were many under-16's using UseNet, I have heard
some suggest that it is a "Social Media".

Facebook ... Sure!
X ... Sure!
Instagram .... Sure!
Youtube .... Some would suggest it is "Social Media", too.

... and there are probably others I can't think of or have Never heard of.

But is UseNet "Social Media"??

Usenet can be a social medium, and is sometimes used as such, if one
defines a socuial mediun as one through which people have social
intoercourse with one another. But the nechnical newsgroups are
certainly not social media, and some of the other ngs, though they may
have some social chitchat are not primarily social media.

I had a mailing list, called "offtopic" which probably could fit
within the definition of a social medium -- it's for people to chat
about stuff that is offtopic in more specialised forums.

How does the Australian legislation deine it?


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-02-01 15:29, Steve Hayes wrote:

On Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:21:52 +1100, Daniel70
<daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:

Cross-posted to Linux and Win-11 NGs

As may here would be aware, last December, the Australian Government
brought in Legislation to limit the access to "Social Media" for those
under 16 years of age.

Whilst I doubt there were many under-16's using UseNet, I have heard
some suggest that it is a "Social Media".

Facebook ... Sure!
X ... Sure!
Instagram .... Sure!
Youtube .... Some would suggest it is "Social Media", too.

... and there are probably others I can't think of or have Never heard of. >>
But is UseNet "Social Media"??

Usenet can be a social medium, and is sometimes used as such, if one
defines a socuial mediun as one through which people have social
intoercourse with one another. But the nechnical newsgroups are
certainly not social media, and some of the other ngs, though they may
have some social chitchat are not primarily social media.

Social chitchat doesn't define social media.

Sending a post to alt.mechanics would be using social media.

In the AU legislation, Usenet fits the definition of social media
squarely, already discussed in the thread.

--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES??, EU??;

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:

On Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:21:52 +1100, Daniel70

[...]

But is UseNet "Social Media"??

Usenet can be a social medium, and is sometimes used as such, if one
defines a socuial mediun as one through which people have social
intoercourse with one another. But the nechnical newsgroups are
certainly not social media, and some of the other ngs, though they may
have some social chitchat are not primarily social media.

That kind of reasoning has its problems, because that would mean that 'technical' forums on media which clearly *are 'social media', i.e.
Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, etc., would make these 'social media' stop
being 'social media'.

[...]

How does the Australian legislation deine it?

Good point! Let's get all the banned youngsters on Usenet! Usenet has
no owner, so no government can ban it, nor block/fine/etc. it! (Just
kidding.)

But let's keep it simple: Usenet just is social media for oldies like
us, i.e. even more embarrasing for youngsters than ... blech ...
Facebook.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 02/01/2026 5:59 AM, Richard Kettlewell wrote:

Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> writes:

Cross-posted to Linux and Win-11 NGs

As may here would be aware, last December, the Australian Government
brought in Legislation to limit the access to "Social Media" for those
under 16 years of age.

Whilst I doubt there were many under-16's using UseNet, I have heard
some suggest that it is a "Social Media".

Facebook ... Sure!
X ... Sure!
Instagram .... Sure!
Youtube .... Some would suggest it is "Social Media", too.

... and there are probably others I can't think of or have Never heard of. >>
But is UseNet "Social Media"??

In Australian lawn, yes. The definition is given in https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024A00127/asmade/text section 63C and
Usenet clearly fits.

I think it would fit any reasonable informal definition of ?social
media? too.

I would think that Newsgroups of this sort would not be included.

Section 63C of URL document
(2) For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(a)(i), online social
interaction includes online interaction that enables end?users to share material for social purposes.

Note: Social purposes does not include (for example) business purposes.

(3) In determining whether the condition set out in subparagraph
(1)(a)(i) is satisfied, disregard any of the following purposes:

(a) the provision of advertising material on the service;

(b) the generation of revenue from the provision of advertising
material on the service.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

knuttle <keith_nuttle@yahoo.com> writes:

On 02/01/2026 5:59 AM, Richard Kettlewell wrote:

Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> writes:

Cross-posted to Linux and Win-11 NGs

As may here would be aware, last December, the Australian Government
brought in Legislation to limit the access to "Social Media" for those
under 16 years of age.

Whilst I doubt there were many under-16's using UseNet, I have heard
some suggest that it is a "Social Media".

Facebook ... Sure!
X ... Sure!
Instagram .... Sure!
Youtube .... Some would suggest it is "Social Media", too.

... and there are probably others I can't think of or have Never heard of. >>>
But is UseNet "Social Media"??

In Australian lawn, yes. The definition is given in
https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024A00127/asmade/text section 63C and
Usenet clearly fits.
I think it would fit any reasonable informal definition of ?social
media? too.

I would think that Newsgroups of this sort would not be included.

Section 63C of URL document
(2) For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(a)(i), online social
interaction includes online interaction that enables end?users to
share material for social purposes.

If by ?this sort? you mean newsgroups about particular operating
systems, people can certainly engage in social chitchat in them, and do
so frequently. They obviously fit the definition in the Australian law.

--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:21:52 +1100, Daniel70 wrote:

Cross-posted to Linux and Win-11 NGs

Why!?

--
s|b

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.10
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)