Cato Podcast

Australia’s Social Media Ban and the Illusion of Online Safety

13 snips
Dec 30, 2025
Australia's recent social media ban for those under 16 raises crucial questions about free expression and privacy. The hosts dive into how such policies could push kids to unmonitored platforms instead of making them safer. They highlight the risks of vague definitions of 'harmful' content, which could stifle innocent searches. Moreover, the chilling effects on anonymity threaten dissent and exploration, while the idea of age verification brings troubling privacy concerns. Ultimately, they advocate for empowering parents and fostering open discussions to protect children online.
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INSIGHT

Multiple Harms Were Collapsed Into One Problem

  • Debates about kids online bundle different harms like sexual content and addictive design into one problem.
  • That bundling drives calls for broad government fixes rather than tailored family solutions.
INSIGHT

Ban Removes Protections And Redirects Youth

  • Australia's law bans under-16 accounts and forces platforms to age-assure users.
  • That likely pushes kids to unregulated sites and strips away existing platform parental protections.
ANECDOTE

Pilates Search Triggered Age Check

  • Jennifer Huddleston logged out and searched for Pilates studios and encountered an 18+ verification prompt.
  • The UK law's broad triggers can block innocuous searches and frustrate travelers or casual users.
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