Bald Data

AUSTRALIA’S SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR TEENS: WHY IT WON’T WORK

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by

Sean O’Reilly
in

Australia has passed a world-first law banning social media accounts for anyone under 16. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 will come into effect by December 2025, forcing platforms to block under-16s or face fines of up to A$50 million.

Supporters argue it’s necessary to protect kids’ mental health, improve attention spans, and encourage face-to-face socialising. But based on Australia’s history with ambitious tech policies – and the realities of the internet – the ban is unlikely to succeed.

THE BAN IN BRIEF

The ban covers major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), Reddit, Snapchat and YouTube. “Safe” apps like Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, YouTube Kids and Google Classroom will be exempt.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he wants children to be “shaped by real life, not algorithms.” The opposition also supports the measure.

But experts are divided. Over 140 academics and child safety specialists signed an open letter warning of unintended harms, while polls show most Australians doubt the ban will achieve its aims.

A HISTORY OF FAILED TECH FIXES

Australia has a mixed record with digital interventions:

  • NBN (National Broadband Network) – launched in 2009, it ran years over schedule and billions over budget, delivering slower speeds than promised.
  • GroceryWatch – a $4 million government website to compare supermarket prices, abandoned within a year due to poor data and retailer resistance.
  • Mandatory Internet Filter – planned nationwide ISP filtering in the late 2000s, dropped after backlash over censorship and technical flaws.

Each started with good intentions but failed in practice. The social media ban risks becoming the next in this line of well-meaning but unworkable policies.

WHY THE BAN WON’T WORK

  • Easy to bypass. Teens already lie about their age to access under-13 platforms. VPNs and borrowed accounts make an under-16 ban easy to evade.
  • Age verification is unreliable. AI estimation tools aren’t accurate, and requiring IDs raises major privacy concerns.
  • Enforcement is unrealistic. Authorities can’t police every overseas app or gaming platform. Smaller or emerging services may ignore the law entirely.
  • Content is still accessible. Teens don’t need accounts to watch YouTube videos or browse social feeds. Harmful material remains only a click away.

RISKS AND UNINTENDED HARMS

Banning teens from mainstream platforms may push them into less safe corners of the internet. TikTok itself warned that such measures could drive young people to riskier, unregulated spaces.

It could also cut off support networks. Social media connects teens to educational content, creative outlets, and communities – especially valuable for isolated or vulnerable youth. UNICEF Australia notes that banning access “won’t fix the problems young people face online.”

Finally, the ban may delay, not prevent risky behaviour. Teens could binge social media once they turn 16, without the gradual learning that comes from earlier, supervised use.

BETTER SOLUTIONS

Instead of a blunt ban, experts suggest a mix of education, parental involvement, and platform accountability:

  • Digital literacy in schools to teach teens how to use social media responsibly.
  • Parental engagement and tools so families can set healthy boundaries together.
  • Transparency from tech companies on teen usage, harmful content exposure, and safety measures.
  • Safer design rules for under-18s, such as default privacy, limits on addictive features, and stricter filtering of harmful material.

This approach targets the root problems – harmful content and addictive design – rather than trying to banish teens from the platforms entirely.

CONCLUSION

Australia’s social media ban is bold, but boldness alone doesn’t make good policy. Teens are likely to bypass restrictions, enforcement will be patchy, and the risks of unintended harm are high.

Protecting young people online will require more than symbolic bans. Education, parental support, and holding tech companies accountable are smarter, more sustainable ways to create a healthier digital environment.

Sources:

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