The Labor Government in Australia has just passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill to ban under 16s from social media. In Anthony Albanese’s words this legislation is “world-leading” which on the surface sounds great, but does it really mean it’s good?
Today, the power of social media is no surprise to anyone. Its positives and negatives are documented right down to the bone. But it’s the negatives here that are really the topic of discussion. Mental health, anxiety, addiction, easy access to misinformation and poor role models, it’s a list that keeps increasing while screen time skyrockets.
So, for concerned Australian parents and citizens, Albanese’s decision might seem spot on. Enough tiptoeing around the issue; let’s get right down to the crux of it, let’s hit these social media conglomerates where it hurts and force them to finally take some responsibility.
The sentiment is completely right, social media giants can and should do much more. But, as we well know, issues as important as this are rarely that simple.
KEEPING TEENS OFF IT
The Australian government has stated that they will threaten companies with fines of up to AU$50m (US$32m) if they fail to comply. With the biggest platforms, Snapchat, TikTok, X, Instagram, Reddit and Facebook all likely to be part of the ban. And that the details will come later when the bill is enforced in 12 months. But here lies the big unanswered question, how? How can we really expect teens to stay offline?
Gen Z have grown up online, they don’t know what a world is like without it, and in a lot of cases these platforms can be a much-needed point of community and connection. History has taught us that banning things often just makes people want them more, especially young people. Try telling a 15-year-old that their TikTok days are over, they’ll be back with a fake profile quicker than you can say “age verification.”
It seems this ban is underestimating just how creative teens can get. It might not only take away a lot of their answers to loneliness but also turn social media into the ultimate forbidden fruit, sending them to platforms with lower content quality and less regulation.
ENFORCEMENT ISSUES
The internet and social media weren’t made for children. The issue is right there in its creation. A week after Albanese’s first announcement that this bill was in contention, Meta brought in “teen accounts” for Instagram, where changes to settings will have to be accepted. This gives parents greater control over what their kids are seeing and the amount of screen time they are getting. This seems like a step in the right direction and at least there is a conscious effort from Meta to confront the issue. But it gives an added pressure for parents to police what their children see. In many cases, this just won’t be possible, and still, the overarching question of enforcement remains.
So, instead of just shutting it down, how about giving children tools to navigate it healthily? Imagine if Australian (and the UK) schools put social media on the curriculum? Teach kids how to protect their mental health online, handle cyberbullying, and spot misinformation. They’re already teaching online safety basics, so why not give them the full toolkit? When it comes to the digital world, knowledge isn’t just power, it’s survival.
WHAT ABOUT FOR BRANDS?
This might seem like a drop in the ocean compared to the bigger issues at hand. But there are many brands and companies who reach younger people with positive, helpful messages. So, with younger users potentially pulled off the popular social media platforms, there will have to be a big rethink. It might push brands to get creative, work harder to get parental buy-in, or find new ways to reach younger audiences that don’t rely on social media. We might be seeing a shift towards family-focused campaigns or other more “social-friendly” workarounds? It’s bound to shake up strategies – and fast. And it could well mean a much more positive and healthy way of reaching teens.
IT'S ALL ABOUT BALANCE
Australia’s ban might spark more worldwide changes, but on its own, it’s just a plaster over a problem that runs deep. It’s easy to get caught up in all the negatives and forget the positives that social media can bring. For a more balanced approach, how about we pair boundaries with education? Give kids the tools to handle the digital world wisely, with guidance, resilience, and a bit of common sense. Let’s hope that whatever comes from this, it’s a step in the right direction to creating a digital landscape that is fit for children as well.