#And I have a million and one things I need to do but I can't get any of them done

[megpie71]

This bill is an example of the politician's syllogism:

Something must be done

This is something

Therefore, this must be done

It isn't going to actually solve any problems; it is primarily intended to kick the can down the road for another twelve months to the other side of the election, and was rushed through in order for the two major parties to be able to say they were "doing something" about the problem of kids being affected poorly by online content.

It isn't the creation of a whole new law - it's an amendment to an existing law - the Online Safety Act of 2021. It defines "social media" incredibly broadly:

"(1) For the purposes of this Act, age-restricted social media platform means: (a) an electronic service that satisfies the following conditions: (i) the sole purpose, or a significant purpose, of the service is to enable online social interaction between 2 or more end-users; (ii) the service allows end-users to link to, or interact with, some or all of the other end-users; (iii) the service allows end-users to post material on the service; (iv) such other conditions (if any) as are set out in the legislative rules; or (b) an electronic service specified in the legislative rules; but does not include a service mentioned in subsection (6). Note 1: Online social interaction does not include (for example) online business interaction Note 2: An age-restricted social media platform may be, but is not necessarily a social media service under section 13."

"(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."

(or in other words: no, having most of your content be advertising doesn't mean your site isn't a social media site).

(6) An electronic service is not an age-restricted social media platform if : (a) none of the material on the service is accessible to, or delivered to, one or more end-users in Australia; or (b) the service is specified in the legislative rules.

There's some interesting bits in section 63D about the kinds of information these platforms may or may not collect and why they're allowed to collect it. Basically, one of the rules is they're not allowed to collect information for the purposes of complying with this legislation; they're not allowed to collect government-issued identification material (birth certificates, drivers licenses, medicare numbers, tax file numbers, government issued digital IDs etc etc etc) for the purposes of complying with the legislation. Oh, and if they can prove there are no reasonable steps they can take to comply with the legislation, the rules don't apply to them.

Information collection in order to comply with this legislation also has to comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1988 (which basically specifies the information collected and stored has to be the minimum amount possible; only relevant to the questions being asked - so for example, they can't ask for information which isn't related to your date of birth in order to verify your age; has to be stored securely; has to be available for you to view if you request it; can only be stored for as long as is needed to serve the purpose for which it was supplied; and has to be destroyed completely when you revoke your consent to the collecting entity holding onto it). Or in other words: all these American social media firms have just put their hands up to be governed by Australian privacy law, which, while a bit long in the tooth and desperately in need of a revamping and tightening up for the digital age, is still a bit more vicious than US privacy law.

Plus, the whole thing has to be reviewed after two years.

Here's hoping the US social media firms don't just look at the comparatively tiny size of the Australian market (we're still less than 30 million people) and decide geo-blocking our IPs is the quicker and easier fix.

Australian Social Media News

Australia has passed a law that bans anyone under age 16 from using social media starting late 2025, fining tech companies up to A$49.5M for non-compliance. While intending to address mental health concerns in kids and teenagers, the law raises significant risks for privacy, digital access, and the freedom of expression, raising questions about the boundaries of digital censorship.

With that being said, we don’t expect this decision to affect the OTW or any of its projects, including AO3. However, as the OTW, we are against all forms of censorship and will be releasing a detailed statement about the matter soon.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/australia-passes-social-media-ban-children-under-16-2024-11-28/

[empthy1]

sugar mommy!tashi bc i need her. thank you for breaking me out of my slump once again ms tashi. ms duncan. wrote this in one night, so any errors are unintentional. i can't seem to stop imbuing unnecessary amounts of worldbuilding into every single thing i write. 941 words.

Somehow, some sixteen months after taking the internship of your dreams, you ended up here—sprawled on a beach for the second day in a row, baking comfortably under the Tahitian sun after quitting said internship the week before.

Tashi didn't intend on ending up with a sugar baby. Didn't intend to be hoodwinked by a young woman ten years her junior.

Doesn't mean she didn't kickstart the process, however unintentionally.

So she showed up to your little corner cubicle eleven months ago, tugging you from your laptop by the collar of your blouse and taking you out to a far-too expensive lunch. She doesn't exactly know why, either.

She was intending to take lunch, anyway, but usually she'd just have her assistant have it delivered, still steaming, to her high-floor office. Sit, alone in the white room decorated with her accomplishments, and eat as she kept working. The magazine waited for no one, after all, and she had a deadline.

Yet, as she'd checked the employee logs sent to her every day, detailing work hours and project progress collected by her subordinates, she'd noticed far too many hours being worked by one sweet little intern.

She'd only met you once before, when she'd dropped by to introduce herself during intern orientation—as is routine. Your smile that day was different than the one shown in your employee photo. Shyer, almost bashful at the handshake she'd culled you into and at the fingers she'd strummed along your palm during the lengthy release.

She'd hoped you'd do well. It seems you were doing a bit too well. You'd put in at-home work, contributed meaningful things to projects far above your pay grade, and smashed through every task will increasingly ruthless efficiency.

You reminded her of her, a million years ago. Crashing through barriers and putting in an unprecedented amount of hours. But it would catch up to you. It caught up to her, one day, when she was fifteen.

It's not a long story, or a particularly important one to anyone. It barely even headlined the local news, even in their small town—Local Tennis Player Passes Out from Exhaustion in the Hot Sun was ran on page 4B, tucked deep into the newspaper and only given a small segment in the sports section. But it was important to her.

It marked a moment where her ambitions were not stunted, but contained. She couldn't practice twenty, thirty hours a week and compete—she'd harm herself. Firm earfuls from both her worried parents and her stern coach confirmed it.

It changed the way she worked, the way she lived. She still watched her tapes over about a trillion times—but she did it relaxed and in bed, instead of on the court as she obsessively attempted to hammer out a flaw in her footwork. She carved out times for actual meals instead of protein bars and fruit.

She wanted to make sure you don't do the same thing to yourself.

This is how she ends up leaning into your cubicle, nose wrinkling at the impersonal area. There's barely any note that someone even spends time here, other than the barest hints of a gifted plant—price sticker still molded to the cheap plastic pot. Hm. It's definitely not suitable for any worker, much less one that puts in as many hours as you do.

"Hello?" She calls out with a quiet murmur of your name, voice curling in the air and seeping past the cushion of your headphones.

She sees the embarrassment on your face. She can practically taste the confusion. What's Ms. Duncan doing here? The surprise on your face makes the slightest smirk tick her lips.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go to lunch with me today."

An unexpected proposition. But who are you to say no?

She'd picked a little vegetarian spot she'd frequented. Based on the charges she's seen on your cafeteria card for meals and such, you're like her—not the biggest fan of meat.

You both settle in to a little corner booth. The angle doesn't force you to meet her eyes; it seems like you've been avoiding that, head tucked almost permanently to your chest. Out of awkwardness or embarrassment, she doesn't know, but she'd like to rectify it.

First, though, pleasantries. The head chef's already ambling over, arms outstretched and a smile curling her face. A nice older woman, with greying roots (she swears she'll let it grow out this time) that whips up the best pasta in the city. She's come out to take their order personally.

"Anything for an old friend and her date." The stressed syllable and the rather unsubtle wink she sends her way is not lost on her. Or you, it seems, she muses to herself as your head dips further.

She'd been rather invested in her life since her divorce. The thought makes her feel the lightness of her ring finger for the first time in months.

No worry, though. She won't let a nosy (if well meaning) friend ruin her date lunch meeting and attempts to pull you out of her shell.

Once the chef had left—but not without shooting her another wink—she is quick to engage you in conversation and sink into the lull of your chatter. She wants to see if the witty, smart person she's seeing in your work and hearing from others is really the truth.

You were, she muses, months later, laying next to you on that beach. And even more than that.

Your ring finger's looking a little bare. She'd never had reservations about buying you jewelry before, though.

these were meant to be headcanons but turned into a blurb. might still write the headcanons though. maybe.

[novastaree]

i love 15x8 but its sometimes a little nonsensical to me but also so amazing at the same time?!?!

first off chuck being at a casino just killing people and being served is so real because if i was god and i was fed up id pull the same shit as him. And then when we see Adam and Michael they treat the waiter and the people at the dinner kindly even paying when they don't really need to and Michael going out of his way to fix everyones memory was a good non-mentioned comparison between the two and also made me feel like even though he wasn't on screen Michael changed alongside adam because szn 5 Michael was scary as shit and probably didn't care about the peoples feelings like his father

then we get to the nonsensical part which is honestly the dialog first up the diner scene. Adam says he can't go to college but he wants to get a little job and i just don't think Michael will sit back as Adam gets a little job in any way he wouldn't sit back during college. it is nice Adam wants to actually pay people even though if i was in his stop no way in hell (pun hehe) id do that

(edit but also them talking about the fast food killing him??? No it won't You're an archangel buddy nothing can affect him why are you shaming him 😭😭😭)

next is Michael getting caught in fucking holy fire by Castiel??? In season 5 literally Uriel got rid of holy oil before he entered a room (or maybe it was Michael I'm pretty sure it was uriel tho) And you're telling me Michael who got torched by holy fire and didn't seem to have a good time the first time by the person he was called by didn't get rid of the oil before he stepped foot near them and also it's a Castiel forever to drop that stupid fucking lighter he could stepped out. And How did Michael just let them put the stupid cuffs on He could have just thrown one of these hoes into the fire and stepped out when they were trying to cuff him??? Also they literally got him to have a conversation with him why the fuck would they kidnap him?

and my favorite favorite thing to complain about in this episode is their stupid ass conversations They start off by trying to get Michael who they just kidnapped practically to understand their side. And then when that's not obviously working and he's being kind of bitchy to them Michael says like "You who left me in hell and let your own brother rot" Sam spews some bullshit like "Well in our line of work We got to get used to lost causes blah blah blah blah blah" And first off Michael saying you who left your brother to rot in hell?? So did you and for like a million times longer what 😭 But then they think instead of calling him out on his hypocrisy they start going off about their job and bullshit! WHY WOULD MICHAEL CARE DUDE HE'S AN ANGEL HE DOESN'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT YOUR LINE OF WORK!!!

I did love Michael and castiel's fight but they both looked just a bit constipated 🤏

What made me really mad and like confused was 'when we locked away the darkness this was the spell' DIDN'T YOU DO THAT BEFORE EARTH AND PURGATORY AND THE UNIVERSE WAS A THING???? How the fuck is it a spell??? The final season I feel like they really were just giving any solution.

Also it's so funny to me how incredibly powerful Michael is even in these stupid fucking angel cuffs like it felt like the only thing it really was doing was making it so he couldn't get out of the cuffs but didn't do shit besides that. like he opened up a portal to purgatory which Raphael another archangel couldn't fucking do except for like one day a year or something. BUT MICHAEL BEING SO POWERFUL ALSO CONFUSES ME BECAUSE IF HE CAN JUST OPEN UP FUCKING PORTALS TO ANOTHER FUCKING UNIVERSES WHY DIDN'T HE JUST OPEN UP A FEW DIFFERENT PORTALS TO GET OUT OF THE FUCKING CAGE

Also I might be the only one but I feel like Adam accepting their apology just felt like him saying 'get me the fuck out of here I'm so done' Also him cursing Castiel was funny "Since when do we get what we deserve?" looks to Castiel and walks out. yeah he totally knew that the gay angel was fucked personally if I was Adam I would have slapped Dean before I walked out but you know cursing his angel boyfriend is probably just as good

Also Adam's so peaceful in this episode like maybe it's cuz he doesn't want to like repeat what happened the first time he met his brothers when he kind of got possessed immediately by an archangel but now that he is what was his like consequence for being kind of a dick to them, like imo he totally should have cuz even though he doesn't really look it to us I'm pretty sure canonically he was still 19 yk

anyways that was a lot but I'm pretty sure it's all of my thoughts on this episode a beautiful crazy episode

[dogwartz]

i also found it a bit hard so ill write them out for anyone else who is struggling to read what its saying

Image one: If you find a corner of this world wide web that has any substance at all, then please stick to it. The hundreds of millions of people that now place absolutely no value on their time, their precious time, and spend it watching soulless content designed to hold their attention is depressing. This all depressed me. There is so little substance in this mess of a world wide web, so little heart or soul or love. If you find any substance, stick to it.

Image two: A Tribute To Minecraft, The Great Potato War, TheOriginalAce's Q&A's, Ludwig's 2020 streams, SMPLive Talent Show. This was everything to me.

Image three: Status is irrational & nature is cynical It's attention porn. Don't get addicted to it. It's nothing. It means nothing. They are more insecure than you. But what the fuck do I know

Image four: When I was a boy, alone, this meant everything to me. I found my people. My place. And along the way I was a part of something that really meant something. That is the only of this . Whatever I did that meant something, that is the only good bit.

Image five: I can't watch back my old videos because everyone in them wasn't who they said they were. Do you know bad this makes me feel. Do you know how sad I have felt all year.

Image six: How could anyone possibly find out who they are when you are all immersed in the needless, self indulgent spiral of instant gratification and distraction. This is not good for you.

Image seven (all written upside down): I don't think I trust anyone here. I don't think anyone trusts anyone here. the poor 12 year old watching this sad ass video when he subscribed for funny minecraft videos. poor guy lmao.

Image eight: yeah i know it's too much like bo burnham. it won't be in a year though. In a year it will be like Tom Simons. Just let me figure out what that means, OK?

Image nine: I used to feel like I was just doing everything wrong. That I just wasn't smart or good like any of my friends. I realize now I was the only one doing the right thing. I just wanted to have fun. What I'd do to get that back, my god. What I'd do. To have things be simple again.

Image ten: I just don't want to slip back into who I was. A year ago I needed you. A year ago most of my self esteem and worth and love came from you. A year ago I wasn't happy unless you were. I don't think I can ever do that again. That really was wrong. How did I possibly end up there?

screencaps of the text in tommy's new video for anyone that wants them!!

Hurts a little but make sure to go check it out!

[crownmemes]

Columbo Sentences, Vol. 4

(Sentences from Columbo (1968-2003). Adjust phrasing where needed)

"You don't have to be afraid that I'll break into pieces!"

"I can't stay locked up here in this house for the rest of my life! Surely you can understand that?"

"You know, you're a marvellously deceptive man."

"Slow down! We've got to be practical about this!"

"If I want to spend half a million dollars, that's for me to decide!"

"Why do you continue with this preposterous idea of resuming your career?"

"You must stop living in that fantasy world of yours!"

"I know you didn't marry me out of love, but our life hasn't been that bad, has it?"

"You know, you're so involved with details that maybe I can see something clearer than you?"

"You know, I don't think you're being completely candid with me about your frequent visits."

"I must say, you're looking unusually elegant!"

"You'll try? A child tries. A man accomplishes."

"I have made a discovery that you are going to find emotionally disturbing. I want you to be prepared for that."

"A job well done should not be casually rewarded."

"You thought I was dead, didn't you?"

"Double agents don't go broke. They die sometimes, but they don't go broke."

"I bet you were disappointed when I showed up alive."

"You are delving into areas over which you have no authority."

"By now, you should know that no one in our business is ever who he says he is."

"I was younger and more beautiful then."

"I don't care to have my secrets exposed to the world. Can you understand that?"

"Any lock can be picked if you know how."

"What is it about me that you find so irresistible?"

"The perfect murder? Oh, I'm sorry, there is no such thing as the perfect murder. That's just an illusion."

"I thought you were going to quit?"

"You know, some people think you're the most brilliant detective of our time!"

"Is there anything that doesn't bore you?"

"Why don't we stop pretending that I'm brilliant and you're simple for one moment?"

"You must never underestimate me, nor I you."

"That is a part of my life that I don't discuss with anyone, and I don't feel that I know you well enough to discuss it with you now."

"I bet you don't know the difference between Byzantine and the Renaissance."

"Does the joke always have to be at my expense?"

"I don't have to look. I remember."

"I'm going to give you a little problem to test your powers of logical thinking."

"Oh. You're moody again."

"We're alive! Let's enjoy it while we can!"

"You know something? That's the very first time somebody ever told me they liked me for my body instead of my mind."

"I had no real childhood. I was an imitation adult because that was what was expected of me."

"Have you ever considered a different line of work?"

"You are the most exasperating woman I have ever met!"

"Can I ask you something? Are we having an affair together?"

"Well, this is quite the coincidence! I had no idea you were here!"

"I respect your talent, but I don't like anything else about you."

"Interesting how you can work these things out if you just think about it, isn't it?"

[icewindandboringhorror]

On average, what is the total MONTHLY amount that you spend on dining out*?

*(This doesn't only count going out to restaurants, but also stuff like picking up fast food to bring home, getting a coffee on the way to work, getting a premade sandwich from a grocery store deli during lunch, buying a quick snack from a convenience store or food cart whilst walking somewhere, ordering a pizza or any other food to be delivered to your home, etc.)

*(If you often dine out in groups/as a household: calculate and divide the costs so that you get a Per Person average. This is for YOU individually, NOT the total household/group costs)

(I'm sure polls similar to this have been made before (very common topic), I just haven't personally seen one that I can remember, so, I was curious to do my own! I was discussing this with a group of people today and it was very interesting to see how widely the number varied between individuals. :0c )

(Reblog for bigger sample size if you can, and feel free to explain your answer in tags if there's anything extra to add!)

[kandicon]

*writes the same exact headcannons in slightly different scenarios over and over again*

[sherlock-is-ace]

.

[ilkkawhat]

just reflecting today on the 7th poured drink tonight and recalling how when i was venting to my co-workers about yesterday and the panic attack i had and all that, she mentioned how I needed more help when I was drowning and i swear to you the immediate thing that came to mind when she said that was alan wake

[moe-broey]

I've never been a "born in the wrong generation" type of guy because for So Many reasons I would be dead. Full stop like I would have died during childbirth I would have died of appendicitis age 8 and that's not even factoring in my queerness and neurodivergency and ultimately my mental health (carefully maintained thanks to support/modern advances in medicine and treatment). On Top Of That my hobbies include The Video Game and many such things that are of modern invention (adjacently: including The Device I'm typing this out on right now which has become my main avenue of communication to the outside world)

But I'm just saying that. It WOULD be nice. To exist in a world where fluorescent lighting doesn't exist and everything is possibly 99% less overstimulating all of the time forever.

[manasurge]

.

[intertexts]

nhw dakota + virion guard dog / attack dog solidarity.......

[b-blushes]

guess who just successfully put their car battery on charge with zero accidents or emergencies 😤

[icewindandboringhorror]

Little bright colored outfit with a fun vest ~

(shoes from ebay like 10 years ago. everything else is thrifted)

[simptasia]

before televisions and computers, we had books. before books we had paintings and drawings. before paintings and drawings, we had verbal storytelling. now we have all of these things at once

aren't we so very fucking lucky!

[pa-pa-plasma]

does anyone have any badger puns i'm dying over here