Radio Atlantic Is This the End of Kids on Social Media?
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Dec 4, 2025 Julie Inman Grant, Australia's e-safety commissioner, and Dr. Jo Orlando, a researcher in digital well-being, delve into Australia's groundbreaking move to ban kids under 16 from social media. They discuss potential impacts on teen social connections and the enforcement challenges of age verification. While Inman Grant emphasizes child protection and layered age assurance, Orlando critiques the ban as a superficial solution, advocating for deeper social and educational strategies. The conversation highlights both the risks and benefits of social media in young lives.
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Teen Perspective: Losing A Social Lifeline
- Catherine made her first social account at 10 or 11 and uses Snapchat daily to coordinate with friends.
- She fears losing friendships and purpose if she can no longer access social apps under the new law.
Regulator Will Demand Layered Age Checks
- Julie Inman Grant says platforms must take 'reasonable steps' and face large fines for noncompliance.
- She plans to define 'reasonable' by requiring layered age-assurance beyond self-declared ages.
Practical Enforcement Steps Expected
- Platforms should deactivate or remove under-16 accounts they can identify and prevent circumvention like VPNs.
- They must also provide reporting channels for adults and an appeals process for overblocking.
