Australia Moves to Ban Under-16s from Social Media
World-First Proposal Aims to Curb Harmful Online Content
A grieving Australian father is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative to prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media, including YouTube. The proposed legislation, potentially a global first, seeks to address the dangers of algorithm-driven content.
A Father’s Plea
Rob Evans recently brought the ashes of his daughter, Liv, to Parliament. He recounted how her online journey began with innocuous cooking videos but quickly led to exposure to harmful material, amplified by platform algorithms that lack parental accountability.
His powerful testimony has bolstered support for the federal government’s plan. The proposed ban would prevent individuals under 16 from creating profiles on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. While direct access wouldn’t be blocked, personalized experiences like subscriptions and algorithmic recommendations would be curtailed.
Differing Views on Effectiveness
Prime Minister **Anthony Albanese** stated the measure is intended to encourage children to engage in physical activities rather than screen time. However, not all experts agree on the efficacy of such a ban.
“Social media ban legislation in general is popular law making, and it’s the sort of thing that will get votes. So it makes sense politically. I think like any other ban, especially on young people, especially on teenagers, it’s unlikely to have much effect.”
—Vaughn Davis, Social Media Commentator
New Zealand-based commentator **Vaughn Davis** questioned the practicality and impact of the proposed ban. He suggested that banning platforms like YouTube, which serves educational purposes for many students, could have more downsides than benefits.
“If you’re a school kid, especially, an awful lot of learning happens on YouTube. So I think the downsides of a band would outweigh the upsides.”
—Vaughn Davis, Social Media Commentator
Defining “Social Media”
YouTube has contested its classification as “social media,” identifying itself as a video streaming service. Critics, however, argue that the label is less important than the platform’s data collection, content recommendation practices, and user engagement strategies.
“That prevents YouTube and Google from profiling that child and creating an understanding of that child and recommending them content.”
—Trevor Long, Tech Expert
Tech expert **Trevor Long** highlighted that these practices are crucial for understanding how platforms profile and recommend content to young users.
The Australian government’s proposed restrictions are slated to be implemented on December 10. Meanwhile, **Davis** advocates for New Zealand to adopt a different strategy, prioritizing digital literacy and education over outright prohibitions.
Globally, concerns about children’s online safety are mounting. For instance, a 2023 report indicated that approximately 70% of US teens aged 13-17 reported using TikTok, with many expressing anxieties about the platform’s impact on their mental well-being (Pew Research Center 2022).
