social media ban

Bilingual

Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s Has Had Limited Impact So Far
2 months ago
- Australia's social media ban for under-16s has shown limited early impact, with only a modest drop in account ownership from 52.4% to 42.1% but 81.5% still accessing restricted services.
- Teens easily bypass restrictions due to platforms requiring only self-declaration of age, with 7.4% using VPNs and 11% receiving parental help.
- Usage of uncovered platforms like Pinterest (16.6% to 21.8%) and BeReal (0.2% to 2.2%) increased, while Reddit remained stable and Threads/Kick saw slight growth.
- The ban led to a decline in children feeling left out (43.3% to 36.3%) and increased use of messaging services (40.5% to 52.3%) and video games (26.4% to 29%).
- eSafety Commissioner notes reform will take time, as providers are not effectively preventing under-16s from having accounts.
The Government Wants Your Selfie to Use Instagram
2 months ago
- Australia plans to ban under-16s from social media, but the age verification system threatens privacy by requiring sensitive ID or AI-powered selfies.
- Massive data breaches are already common; forcing users to upload passports or biometric data creates a high-value target for hackers, with lifelong consequences if stolen.
- The ban is easily bypassed using VPNs, as demonstrated by a similar UK law, pushing kids to unregulated corners of the internet.
- Vulnerable groups like LGBTQ+ youth and migrant/refugee children rely on social media for community and support; the ban would isolate them and cut off vital resources.
- Age-estimation AI is biased against non-white and non-male faces, embedding discrimination into the system.
- Better alternatives include mandating safer platform design, holding corporations accountable, and investing in digital literacy education.
Australia's social media ban… A looming implementation disaster
2 months ago
- Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s takes effect December 10, 2025, with no clear enforcement plan.
- The law was rushed through parliament in 24 hours, with minimal public consultation and expert input ignored.
- Age verification methods are unproven, invasive, and likely to fail, with accuracy as low as 76% for 13-year-olds.
- Privacy advocates warn the law creates mass surveillance infrastructure, risking data breaches and civil liberties.
- Vulnerable groups—LGBTQIA+ youth, rural children, and those relying on social media for mental health—face severe harm.
- Only 25% of Australians believe the ban will work; experts call it a 'blunt instrument' that pushes kids to unregulated spaces.
- Platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok criticize the law as unenforceable, and VPN circumvention is expected to spike.
- The government admits it is 'building the plane while flying it,' with no fixed compliance standards or accuracy thresholds.
- Alternative approaches like safety-by-design and digital literacy were ignored in favor of a politically popular but ineffective ban.
Australia's ban on social media for under-16s has jolted EU into belated action
2 months ago
- Australia's social media ban for under-16s, introduced in December 2025, has inspired global discussions but faces practical issues such as weak age verification and workarounds by teenagers.
- By early 2026, at least 13 EU countries plus the UK, Norway, and Switzerland announced similar bans, with some leaders criticizing social media platforms as 'failed states'.
- Experts argue that current regulations like the EU's Digital Services Act are ineffective, and social media companies have failed to enforce age restrictions or curb addictive features.
- European Commission findings label platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as addictive by design, though companies dispute this.
- Efforts for age verification tools face delays, but the urgency for legislation is driven by mounting evidence of online harm and successful legal actions.
French President Macron backs effort to ban kids under 15 from social media
2 months ago
- French lawmakers reached a compromise on a bill to ban social media for children under 15, aiming for enactment by September.
- The bill was amended after the European Commission found it partly incompatible with EU law; a final vote is set for Tuesday.
- The ban covers all social networking services except for online encyclopedias, educational tools, and open-source platforms.
- French President Emmanuel Macron supports the ban, which could be one of his last major measures before leaving office.
- The bill also prohibits mobile phone use in high schools.
- Concerns over social media's harmful effects on minors, such as reduced self-esteem and risky behavior exposure, drove the legislation.
- Global momentum for age restrictions on social media is growing, with similar moves in Australia, the UK, Turkey, and Indonesia.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for limits, including no screens for children under 3.
France first European country to ban social media access for under-15s
2 months ago
- France's parliament approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making it the first EU country to do so.
- President Emmanuel Macron championed the ban as a key reform of his final term, with enforcement pledged by September.
- The ban will be introduced in two stages: blocking new accounts for under-15s from September 1, and applying to existing accounts from January 2027.
- Digital minister Anne Le Hénanff said age-verification tools already exist and platforms are responsible for enforcing the rule.
- The bill also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools, effective from the start of the French school year.
- The European Commission is considering similar measures and has unveiled an age verification app tested by member states.
- Australia became the first country to require removal of under-16 accounts from major platforms last December, and France is one of 20 countries with such measures.

social media ban

Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s Has Had Limited Impact So Far

The Government Wants Your Selfie to Use Instagram

Australia's social media ban… A looming implementation disaster

Australia's ban on social media for under-16s has jolted EU into belated action

French President Macron backs effort to ban kids under 15 from social media

France first European country to ban social media access for under-15s