The Patriot Post® · Australia's Intriguing Ban of Social Media for Teens
We have, in the past, criticized the Australian government for its censorial overreach regarding free speech and technology. We’ve hammered the Aussies for their gun confiscation schemes. However, on one particular issue, our allies down under have taken positive steps in their tech censorship policies.
As of Wednesday, December 10, children and teens under 16 are banned from social media platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced it on Sunday. Here is an excerpt from the press release:
Starting this Wednesday, children under the age of 16 will be banned from having social media accounts. This will be one of the biggest social and cultural changes our nation has faced. It is profound reform which will be a source of national pride in years to come. The onus will be on social media companies to ensure no child under 16 is on their platforms. If they have not taken reasonable steps to remove them they will have broken Australian law and be subject to substantial fines. Social media companies have a social responsibility. That responsibility starts with the protection of Australian children. This is a world-leading move by Australia and it is a change driven, overwhelmingly, by Australian parents. As Prime Minister, I’ve had the sombre experience of meeting with mums and dads who have seen their child’s wellbeing crushed by the worst of social media, many living with the devastating pain of losing a child. Yet these extraordinary Australians have found courage and selflessness to channel their grief into advocating for this reform because they are determined to do everything they can to spare other families the suffering they have known.
This is certainly intriguing news, and Australia’s prime minister isn’t overstating it when he says that this will be a “profound reform.” This is something that American social scientist Jonathan Haidt has been pushing for for years. In fact, Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation was the sparking point for Australian politicians and parents to call for this ban. The dangers of social media exposure in young people cannot be overstated.
We have seen the brain rot that has led vulnerable children down mental health spirals, LGBTQ+ dead ends, and into pornsickness. It has made them easy prey for online predators. Recently, a story appeared in the New York Post discussing this horrific trend of “sextorting” young teen boys. Many end up committing suicide. Social media is also a key element in the puzzle of children’s academic ability being stagnated.
TikTok, Facebook, Instagram (including Threads), X, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch are all now banned for children under 16 in Australia. The companies have all agreed to comply with Australian law and do their due diligence to get underage Australian children off their platforms. Social media companies are compelled to do so by the threat of heavy fines. However, most of these companies will probably operate under the honor system, and it may still be all too easy for motivated underage kids to cheat the system.
If that happens, will Australia be willing to take more extreme measures and ask social media companies to verify ages via driver’s license or other form of legitimate identification? This has been effective in curtailing the predations of websites such as PornHub in the United States. In Fact, PornHub won’t operate in states that have imposed ID age verification measures.
Imposing ID verification has the consequence of eliminating anonymity online as well. Adults have argued this particular point of contention in the porn websites case. However, this arguably puts the needs of adults over the safety and protection of children. As Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath stated in his piece for The Free Press earlier this week, “We’re not adapting tools to fit our children; we’re reshaping children to fit the tools.” If Australia is serious about change, it may need to take stronger steps to ensure that the social media “tool” is not placed in the hands of those who aren’t allowed to have it.
Not everyone is happy with this ban. Reuters highlights the potential for kids to feel disconnected over the long summer holiday (in Australia, it’s summer in December and January). Reuters complains that this puts children from minority groups, such as kids who identify as LGBTQ+, in more vulnerable positions. However, anyone who has been halfway paying attention knows that the danger of not being able to talk to your friends online is seriously outweighed by the dangers of online predators and detrimental social contagions.
If Australia’s ban is successful, perhaps it can show the rest of the world the benefits of making the social media tool only accessible to older teens and pave the way for the United States to do the same.