Australia Has Barred Everyone Under 16 From Social Media. Will It Work?

[Liberal In Texas]

Good luck on enforcing that Aussies:
 

Australia has imposed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world’s most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online. But many details were still unclear, such as how it will be enforced and what platforms will be covered.

After sailing through Parliament’s lower house on Wednesday, the bill passed the Senate on Thursday with bipartisan support. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that it puts Australia at the vanguard of efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of children from detrimental effects of social media, such as online hate or bullying.

The law, he has said, puts the onus on social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account. Corporations could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $32 million) for “systemic” failures to implement age requirements.

- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/world/asia/australia-social-media-ban-law.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20241128&instance_id=140840&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=40501573&segment_id=184350&user_id=8cba0809868d361c8aeaf971a8d23ed1

[jimfields33]

1. Only if you require some sort of identification card

Otherwise, kids will find a way. They are very atone to technology.

[Ocelot II]

2. Good luck with that.

Banning something makes people, especially teenagers, want it more. They'll figure out how to get access. I agree with the sentiment but I don't think it will work.

[usonian]

3. People OVER 16 should be banned.

They do the most damage from reading the hate and lies posted on (anti)social media.

And they vote.

As for the under-16's.

CLEAN UP THE DAMN SITES.
DU does it nicely, though I appreciate the "adult" language now and then.

[sop]

4. "The absence of rule of law in the virtual world is devastating. We live in only one reality,

and the breakdown of the rule of law globally was ignited by the lack of a democratic vision for the internet in the twenty-first century. Impunity online naturally led to impunity offline, destroying existing checks and balances.” - Maria Ressa, Journalist, Nobel Peace Prize winner

Allowing minors unlimited access to social media can be as dangerous as allowing them to buy cigarettes and alcohol. Australia successfully banned most firearms years ago, maybe this will work.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. I Like It, But.....

I don't see how it's enforceable.

[Sneederbunk]

6. Well, their gun control worked.

[moondust]

7. Will probably help some.

IMO "information overload" leading to a loss of deeper understanding of issues and critical thinking is one of the main drivers of TSF and his gang of thugs.

[JCMach1]

8. 0% chance

Teens will chat on different apps, or just SMS.

[Oneironaut]

9. It's impossible to enforce.

Most social media sites already have age restrictions. They mean absolutely nothing.

The only way to enforce this would be demanding users upload their license, or something like that, which isn’t practical and has privacy implications.

[malaise]

10. Well done OZ

Lead the way

[Iggo]

11. Let's not shit on it just because it won't completely get rid of the problem.

That’s what American Gunfuckers do.

And who wants to be like those idiots?

[GreenWave]

12. What if we could ban anybody with under a 7th grade reading ability from it?

[moondust]

13. U.S. mother who lost daughter approves.

Saw the mother interviewed on BBC just now and she is basically thankful that somebody is finally doing something.

A Colorado family turns grief into action against toxic social media

[Skittles]

14. seems a bit much

ya know?