Marketplace All-in-One Kids in Australia are about to lose social media access
Dec 9, 2025
Jake Kwan, a BBC correspondent based in Seoul, discusses Australia's bold new law banning children under 16 from popular social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. While teens express their frustration over the restrictions, many parents cheer the government's efforts against Big Tech. Jake also covers the staggering Kupang data breach impacting 33.7 million customers and the ensuing police investigation. The podcast dives into the global implications of Nvidia being cleared to sell AI chips to China, raising questions about the tech landscape.
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Australia Restricts Teen Social Media Access
- Australia has enacted a law banning under-16s from platforms like Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, framed as a delay to give kids more time to mature.
- The measure is novel and will be watched globally to see if it reduces online harm or backfires.
Teens Give Mixed Reactions
- Many teens said the ban would significantly impact their daily lives and communication habits.
- Some teens welcomed being moved off screens and thought it might be beneficial.
Parents See Government Standing Up To Big Tech
- Parents largely view the law as government support against US Big Tech for failing to prevent online harm.
- Officials call the approach a "treatment plan" and acknowledge the rollout may be messy.