Four of the biggest social media platforms will be banned in Australia, late 2025. (Pexels)
Social media is pervasive in today’s society. From a young age, 40 percent of kids aged 8-12 already have social media. Social media usage by teenagers under 16 has drawn attention from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has helped pass a new law called The Online Safety Amendment which will require a social media ban for those under the age of 16, starting in 2025.
The main reason the Australian government has instated a social media ban is due to the inappropriate content across many platforms, which should only be consumed by more mature audiences. The platforms that will be prohibited are Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and X (Twitter). Messaging, gaming apps and YouTube will be pardoned, and all will still have access to their resources.
Some students at Fresno Christian Schools, like junior Owen Gailey, think that the ban on social media could benefit those who are more likely to be targeted by its toxicity.
“I think Australia banning social media will benefit those under 16 because of how susceptible they are to becoming addicted to social media,” Gailey said. “By banning them until they’re old enough to understand the risks, they can be better prepared and not have as much of a mental struggle by comparing themselves to others or becoming addicted to instant gratification that short-form media like TikTok and Instagram provide.”
Facial recognition, hand movements and IDs are a few ways that the government can secure apps from being used by those under the age of 16. Australia is unsure of how it will prohibit underage users as of now because the privacy of the users is most important to them.
The Australian Government is taking the ban seriously, with punishments threatening those who do not follow it. If the platforms fail to comply with the new law, they can be fined up to $49.5 million.
The social media ban has gained attention from not only Australians but also citizens around the world. Teenagers and parents in Canada have been keeping a close eye on the new law and think it could also benefit their country.
Other countries that have commended Australia for its new law are the United States and the United Kingdom. With the United States praising the new law, many students under age 16 are worried about what could happen with social media restrictions in America. On the other hand, some think banning unnecessary apps could benefit teenagers.
Freshman Madelyn Lopes believes the influence of Australia’s social media ban may positively affect the United States.
“I think Australia could influence America to do the same and get rid of non-important apps and keep the important apps,” Lopes said. “I would feel okay if social media got banned because social media can be addictive.”
According to the Australian Government, though it has arguable pros and cons, social media’s inappropriate content and toxicity outweigh the pros. The inappropriate content is the main reason Australia will be banning social media apps for those under 16 in the upcoming months.
The United States government has not officially put any restrictions on social media as of now, but this could change in the future as social media becomes a more prominent issue.
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