The Australian Government has passed a controversial new law (The Online Safety Amendment Bill) to ban social media for under 16s on 28th Nov 2024. The new law denies those that are under 16 access to social media, it risks being overly paternalistic, separating youth and inadvertently exacerbating the very issues it seeks to address. here's why. 

Impact on teens

Social media is used as a primary communication tool for teens. Most social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, X and TikTok enable teens to connect with peers, share experiences, and engage in community discussions. If banned, minority groups and/or friends will be isolated which makes it harder for them to develop the digital literacy and social skills they need in an increasingly interconnected world. after the social media ban takes effect.

Problems and Challenges to implement

Enforcing a 16+ age limit on social media is dumb and illogical. It lets the makers and peddlers of misinformation, scams and harmful opinion get away with it without taking responsibility for their part in its existence. The social media can be easily be bypassed as teens can bypass the restrictions by providing false birthdates or accessing platforms through anonymous accounts or VPNs. This makes the ban completely useless. Doing a better approach would involve empowering young users instead of banning them. 

Another law idea instead of banning social media for under 16s 

How about making a law that forces people on porn sites to verify their age instead of banning social media? Like when a 13 yr old teen tries to access porn, they will get sent to a page asking for age verification which can stop him from getting porn addiction. 

Conclusion and short story.

I will try to fight back against the social media ban for under 16s. Instead of the ban, the focus should be on education, parental involvement, and platform accountability to ensure a safer and more inclusive digital environment. A refined approach would better serve Australia’s youth, economy, and society as a whole. It is better to not let the social media ban happen.