How Australia's teens are dodging the social media ban |
At a time when technology has invaded our lives, Australia is now running the world’s biggest real-life experiment that seeks to mitigate its effects on our children. What could possibly go wrong?
It’s now just over a month since the world’s first social media ban for children launched in Australia. Age-restricted social media platforms (like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube) must take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent under 16s creating or keeping an account.
Just a few weeks into the ban, Aussie teens are skirting the rules with ease: two phones, fake birthdays, borrowed accounts
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, in his 2024 book The Anxious Generation, argued that smartphones and social media are ‘rewiring’ our children and have led to a rise in mental illness. He has become a champion for banning smartphones at school and has recently called for other countries to follow Australia’s lead.
The ban has been contentious. Scientists have questioned whether the ban will work, and it’s unlikely to reduce screen time. An action like this reeks of ‘we must do something’ alarmism.
That aside, I’m not convinced a ban is the best approach, for several reasons.
It’s well accepted that governments limit alcohol, tobacco, and driving to only be allowed from certain........