Episode 478: No Socials for Sheila

In this episode, we examine why arts education often maintains higher standards even as liberal arts programs shrink in schools and universities, and what students lose when curriculum narrows to job training. We discuss how platforms like X are adding country-of-origin labels to identify foreign influence and bot activity, and highlight the “foolishness of the week” involving the controversy over the “world’s strongest woman” and the broader questions it raises about biology and competitive fairness. We turn to Australia’s proposal to ban social media for kids under sixteen, exploring the practical limits of age verification, the tension between parental authority and government regulation, and why teens remain vulnerable to algorithmic manipulation. We close by considering where society should draw age boundaries, how platforms shape behavior, and what genuine responsibility looks like in the digital age.

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:29 The State of Arts Education Today

02:57 Why Liberal Arts Are Disappearing From Schools

05:45 What a Liberal Arts Education Actually Provides

06:59 X Adds Country-of-Origin Labels

09:56 Foolishness of the Week: “World’s Strongest Woman”

11:31 Biology, Fairness, and Competition in Sports

17:51 Age Rules and Arbitrary Lines

20:53 Australia’s Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s

23:21 Why Age Verification Won’t Work in Practice

26:08 Should the Government Regulate Children’s Social Media Use?

27:32 Algorithmic Bubbles and Teen Vulnerability

33:45 96% of Australian Children Ages 10-15 Use Social Media

34:55 Where to Draw the Line: 13, 16, or 18?

39:34 Parental Responsibility vs. Government Control

46:34 Closing Thoughts on Freedom, Parenting, and Policy

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