All In The Mind From prohibition to social media - what makes bans succeed ... or fail?
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Dec 6, 2025 In this intriguing discussion, Dr. Kate Harrison Brennan, a public policy expert, and Dr. Alexis Whitton, a psychologist specializing in digital mental health, explore the intricate landscape of bans. They delve into historical successes and failures of bans, from tobacco to gun reforms, revealing how unintended consequences often arise. With the new social media restrictions for under-16s, they examine the factors that influence ban effectiveness and the complexities of proving harm related to social media, all while considering youth perspectives and parental concerns.
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Prohibition's Backfire
- Prohibition in the US drove bootlegging, speakeasies and rising violent crime before repeal in 1933.
- The episode uses Prohibition as an example of a ban that clearly failed due to unintended consequences.
Australia's Gun Law Turning Point
- After the 1996 Port Arthur massacre Australia introduced strict gun buybacks and access controls.
- The measures corresponded with a sharp drop in mass firearm killings, showing a successful ban-like intervention.
Three Ingredients For A Successful Ban
- Successful bans need three elements: perceived harm, a feasible alternative, and a freedom-restoring framing.
- Kate Harrison Brennan argues hitting all three makes bans stable and effective long-term.
