Australia has become the first country to impose a comprehensive ban on social media access for those under 16 years old, targeting popular platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. The ban went into effect on Wednesday, creating a huge buzz among teens and those in the industry.
It sounds like the government made this brave step to save young people from the future harms that they might experience from using social media platforms. The ban has fomented backlash and outrage among the very youth demographic it seeks to protect.
Teenage Reactions to the Ban
Lucy Brooks, 14, a cheerleader and regular social media user, said she both supports and opposes the ban. She lost some of her Snapchat friends for a while as a result of the bans. Don’t count her out — she’s still very much alive on Snapchat, TikTok, and the like. Brooks uses these platforms as so many kids do to see routines and, more importantly, learn new cheerleading skills. This proves just how critical social media is to her love.
“It’s scary and nerve-wracking for a lot of people, like they don’t know what to do,” Brooks stated, reflecting the anxiety many teenagers feel about losing access to their memories and private photos. Even though she is dubious, we’re both in agreement that some amount of regulation is called for. “I actually want it to work because I think children shouldn’t be on social media that much,” she said. “But I don’t think it will work.” Specifically, she says the policy depends too heavily on public education to work.
Fifteen-year-old Shar is an ambitious singer. After the ban was put in place, she opened an account on Lemon8 and posted her thoughts about it. “I genuinely do not know a person who has had it shut down, my age,” she noted. What really shocked Shar was the degree of commitment that the government has to this ban. “I’m actually a little surprised, to be honest,” he said, “because they touted it so loudly. Well, my opinion is that when you hype something of this magnitude, you have to deliver on that promise.
Concerns from Young Entrepreneurs
The ban has sent shockwaves among young entrepreneurs. Sixteen-year-old Lucas Lane, who began his nail polish company, Glossy Boys, at only 13 years old, is sensing the effects most deeply. Lane is concerned that his business practices would be directly harmed. He worries it would limit his ability to interact with customers on social media.
So as a young entrepreneur, he’s extremely active on these platforms both for marketing and for engagement. He understands the importance of social media in developing personal relationships that lead to business. While well-intentioned, the limitations may restrict his capacity to reach his intended audience in the most effective way.
Leo Puglisi, the 18-year-old founder of the social media platform-disrupting news channel 6 News, slammed the ban as well. Having launched his news television station at the age of 11, he believes the rules do more harm than good. “I know that it doesn’t stop young people going on social media because my brother’s under the age of 16, and he is still on social media right now,” he pointed out.
Puglisi commented on the lack of enforcement among younger users: “He didn’t even try to bypass it… so I’m fairly confident that’s not working there.” His view is a reflection of a new consensus that the ban isn’t going to succeed at accomplishing its stated goals.
Legal Challenges and Future Implications
As discussions continue regarding the ban’s implications, two legal challenges have already been initiated in Australia’s High Court against this unprecedented restriction. Opponents of the ban have been quick to rebut that concern, stating that teens would just move to other platforms. These alternatives, such as Yope and Coverstar, may not have age restrictions.
Brooks and her colleagues have concerns that the ban will exacerbate isolation. They worry it might make people more anxious about their memories being gone, too. Social media, with its creativity, freedom of expression and limitless connection to their peers and friends, has been an outlet for many teens. They’re anxious, socially off kilter and scared about how to even approach their social lives. The idea of being disconnected from these platforms looms large for them.
