Social Media Ban Update

You may recall a recent suggested move by the government to ban users under the age of 16 from social media apps – well, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has now backed it, according to The Australian.

“A ban, if it can be effective, is a good way to go,” Albanese said, with the implication that such a policy would have bipartisan support. He went on to clarify the word… “effective”.

Peter Dutton announced that the Coalition would ban users under 16 from social media within 100 days if elected. The proposal aims to protect children's mental health, but details on enforcement are unclear. Dutton compared the ban to getting a licence, emphasising technology for age verification. Concerns were raised about teens using VPNs to bypass restrictions. Dutton suggested collaboration with tech companies like Apple for solutions. Prime Minister Albanese supported the ban, advocating for a thorough trial and funding. The feasibility of such a ban remains uncertain, with global challenges in enforcing age verification on social media.

Realistically, any significant changes to social media age access are likely to be driven by developments in the United States, where there is increasing momentum. Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has previously suggested that age verification should be managed by tech giants like Apple and Google, preventing children from downloading the apps on their devices in the first place.

My take? Messy, expensive and unlikely to be very successful - if at all. I vote for Graham Nash - Teach your children from 1970.