Kids are all over Discord, Roblox, Minecraft, and VRchat. They're writing scripts and mods, and that's great. They're probably having a blast and a good number of them are learning a lot.
But they're doing all of these things in someone else's walled garden, on buttoned up platforms that typically constrain what they can accomplish. There are fewer degrees of freedom and a lot less ownership in the work they're doing.
These platforms also cost kids money. They use toxic gotcha mechanics and peer pressure to monetize. This part is strictly worse.
It's a lot different carving out your own clubhouse and culture when you're renting. Especially when you're made to speak a certain language and abide by a rigid set of rules.
Kids are all over Discord, Roblox, Minecraft, and VRchat. They're writing scripts and mods, and that's great. They're probably having a blast and a good number of them are learning a lot.
But they're doing all of these things in someone else's walled garden, on buttoned up platforms that typically constrain what they can accomplish. There are fewer degrees of freedom and a lot less ownership in the work they're doing.
These platforms also cost kids money. They use toxic gotcha mechanics and peer pressure to monetize. This part is strictly worse.
It's a lot different carving out your own clubhouse and culture when you're renting. Especially when you're made to speak a certain language and abide by a rigid set of rules.