The Global Story Will a social media ban for Australian teens work?
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Dec 9, 2025 Katy Watson, the BBC's Australia correspondent, dives into Australia's controversial new law banning social media for under-16s. She discusses the motivations behind this legislation, from mental health concerns to political pressures. Katy shares personal stories that fueled support for the ban and highlights mixed reactions from parents and teens. With legal challenges on the horizon and tech companies reacting, she evaluates whether this bold move will actually protect youth. Australia’s example might just influence other nations watching closely.
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Platforms, Not Parents, Are Held Responsible
- Ten major platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, Kik, Threads) face fines if they fail to block under-16s.
- The law places enforcement responsibility on companies, not on children or parents.
Policy Framed As Public Health Intervention
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presents the policy as a public-health push to get kids off screens and back into real-world activities.
- The government frames algorithms and doomscrolling as major drivers of youth mental-health harms.
Policy Seeded By A State Premier's Story
- The idea began at state level after the South Australian premier's wife urged him to act after reading Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation.
- That local initiative quickly gained bipartisan national support and legal review.
