Australia's Parliament Will Consider Social Media Ban For Kids Under 16
Australia:'s Parliament Will Consider Social Media Ban forFor Kids Under-16s Proposed in Parliament16
The Facts
Australia's ruling Labor Party government has proposed legislation in Parliament to ban social media for children under 16, with no parental consent or account exemptions, and fines of up to A$49.5M (US$32.2M) for tech platforms that violate the rule.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Instagram would be included in the ban, stating that the goal of the law is for social media not to be a "defining feature of growing up in Australia."Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, X, Reddit, and Instagram would be included in the ban, stating that the goal of the law is for social media not to be a "defining feature of growing up in Australia."
The Spin
The digital childhood experiment has been tried and failed, so now we need governments to take action. The current generation of young adults are looking back on their childhoods and realizing that social media had little positive impact and a great deal of destructive consequences. NotThe only are children bombarded with advertisements, but the superficial content they're consuming them leads to abuse and even health issues like eating disorders. TheEnacting digitalthis childhoodban experimentis has been tried and failed, so now we need governments to take actioncrucial.
WhileLike everyonemany canthings, agree that social media has negative effects onand children, Australia should not ignore the immense benefits it's offered as well. ThanksThese toapps theseallow apps, children of all backgrounds have been given an unprecedented ability to educate themselves and make friends. Instead of taking thatthem away, the government should force tech companies to implement child safeguards, making the internet a safe place to learn while blocking out its harmful parts.
