Australia Bans Under-16s From Using Social Media

[Deleted account]

Australia becomes the first country in the world to ban children under 16 from using social media (including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch and TikTok). Existing accounts are to be deactivated.

Popular support for the measure has been strong, with approximately 2/3 of voters in favor.

The ban has garnered worldwide attention, with several nations indicating they will adopt a ban of their own, including Malaysia, Denmark and Norway. The European Union passed a resolution to adopt similar restrictions, while a spokesperson for the British government told Reuters it was "closely monitoring Australia’s approach to age restrictions".

Source

 

[Dr Arthur]

Watching breakfast TV in Australia this morning and it has been a big news item, Cannot help but feel it is a distraction moved to draw attention away from other government issues especially with funds misuse.

 

[Deleted account]

Watching breakfast TV in Australia this morning and it has been a big news item, Cannot help but feel it is a distraction moved to draw attention away from other government issues especially with funds misuse.

That may be so, but it's an important issue in its own right, is it not?

 

[Yingyang]

As if kids always find ways.

 

[RockMan]

As if kids always find ways.

All they have to do is say they’re over 16 when they make an account.

 

[intel-bank]

All they have to do is say they’re over 16 when they make an account.

IIRC there is age verification requirements. Ofc they can be bypassed via various means but it’s not as easy as lying .

 

[Publius]

I’m sure <16 year olds are more familiar with work around than most politicians and parents.

And while I lament the effect social media has had on young people in many ways.
There is no going back.
In all reality this will likely only distance young people further.

 

[Deleted account]

I’m sure <16 year olds are more familiar with work around than most politicians and parents.

And while I lament the effect social media has had on young people in many ways.
There is no going back.

I suppose the sensible way is to treat social media like alcohol. For all intents and purposes, both are drugs - dangerously addictive and capable of ruining lives. However, the're both too deeply rooted in our culture and thus cannot be outright banned (and the US in particular should know).

Age restrictions seem like a sensible middle ground: they can't resolve the issue, but they can mitigate it - after all, hardly anyone has a problem with minors not being allowed to legally acquire alcohol (even though it's common knowledge many do).

 

[Sentry]

Won't be of much use unfortunately. Young people are surprisingly good at finding workarounds to this stuff, as @Publius said.

 

[teekay99]

Can't they just use VPN servers based outside of Australia and sign up for social media indicating they are elsewhere, like New Zealand?

 

[Deleted account]

Can't they just use VPN servers based outside of Australia and sign up for social media indicating they are elsewhere, like New Zealand?

Yes, there are workarounds, but it seems to me everyone here understands this is not a way to solve the problem - merely to mitigate it.

Sometimes you just have to settle for a best-effort solution.

 

[intel-bank]

Yes, there are workarounds, but it seems to me everyone here understands this is not a way to solve the problem - merely to mitigate it.

Sometimes you just have to settle for a best-effort solution.

Yea, since holding social media companies accountable for their harms would be unthinkable, instead punish teens for wanting to socialize.

 

[Deleted account]

Yea, since holding social media companies accountable for their harms would be unthinkable, instead punish teens for wanting to socialize.

Don't blame the drug, dude... Don't blame the drug!

 

[teekay99]

Yea, since holding social media companies accountable for their harms would be unthinkable, instead punish teens for wanting to socialize.

That's an interesting approach. What if they were civilly held to account? For example, civil judgements against these companies for $x million for willful negligence or whatever the case may be.

 

[Deleted account]

That's an interesting approach. What if they were civilly held to account? For example, civil judgements against these companies for $x million for willful negligence or whatever the case may be.

That would be "an attack on the American people", at least if you believe Marco Rubio.

Shame to see that particular guy sell his soul to the devil. He really should have known better... But in the end he freely chose to sign on the dotted line with his own blood, so I say screw him and totally go after the Elon Musks of the world.