Summary
Meta has criticized Australia’s new law banning under-16s from social media, claiming the government rushed it without considering young people’s perspectives or evidence.
The law, approved after a brief inquiry, imposes fines of up to $50 million for non-compliance and has sparked global interest as a potential model for regulating social media.
Supporters argue it protects teens from harmful content, while critics, including human rights groups and mental health advocates, warn it could marginalize youth and ignore the positive impacts of social media.
Enforcement and technical feasibility remain significant concerns.
I think this assumes that putting restrictions on the behaviour of young people doesn’t have value even if they will find ways to do things anyways. Taking responsibility in circumventing boundaries to pursue your interests is part of growing up and is valuable to explore while still under 18, and it also clearly signals that social media is dangerous and not to be treated without thought.
Kids also: do drugs, look at porn, get in fights, swear (restricted in many households and schools but obviously not usually by law), drink/smoke/vape, play with fireworks, play with gunpowder, play with fire/matches, play with knives, the list is basically endless. Restricting these things does not have no value just because people will do them anyways, we just need to always keep in mind that kids will be kids and our goal is to make things safer and put up guidelines without being overbearing.