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Is there life without social media? The Australian experiment that is moving the world

2025-12-10 22:44:15Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
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Australia is the first country to ban the use of social media by people under the age of 16. Adults support this, but children believe the ban is an attack on their rights.

Australia has sparked a global debate by starting to implement a ban on access to social media for all children and teenagers under 16.

Since Wednesday, thousands of young people across the country woke up for the first time unable to open Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or Snapchat, a move aimed at protecting minors from addictive algorithms, online bullying and the risks of abuse.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the day as a proud moment for Australia, saying the country was giving parents back control over the influence of big tech companies. However, he acknowledged the road ahead would not be easy.

What happens to the platforms?

Ten social networks, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch and X, are forced to close or block the accounts of users under 16.

Each of them is implementing the measure in their own way.

• Snapchat suspends accounts for three years or until they reach the age of majority.

• YouTube deactivates accounts by storing data until the age of 16, while allowing viewing of videos without an account.

• TikTok automatically hides minor content and invites parents to report cases where children have lied about their age.

• Meta has started closing accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.

• Reddit freezes minors' accounts and blocks the creation of new ones.

• X has not yet clarified how it will implement the rule.

Other platforms, such as Discord, Pinterest, Roblox, Messenger, and YouTube Kids, are currently exempt from the ban, which has caused controversy, especially for Roblox, where there have been reports of dangers to minors.

How is age verified?

Until now, users simply entered a date of birth. Now, platforms are required to use proven methods, such as video selfies, verified emails or official documents. The Australian government says these methods have been tested and do not violate privacy.

Although it is expected that some young people will use VPNs to circumvent the ban, authorities emphasize that children will not be penalized for this behavior.

How are young people reacting?

Minors are seeking space in the system by massively switching to platforms that are not part of the "blacklist".

Apps like Yope and Lemon8 are seeing a surge in users in Australia. Yope even states that it will not enforce the measures, claiming that it does not have features for messaging with strangers.

Some experts warn that the ban could push young people towards more unstable and less regulated platforms, a move that could create more risks than solutions.

Teenagers want to challenge ban in court

Teenagers Macy Newland and Noah Jones are challenging the law in Australia's highest court, arguing it is unconstitutional, and are being supported by the digital rights group Digital Freedom Project. Macy told DW that most of her peers are against the ban, citing a lack of consultation with young people and a loss of rights and access to information as key concerns.

"The ban prevents young people from fully engaging in democracy and public debate before the age of 16, which is wrong. You cannot empower young people to engage in public debate and democracy by taking away their ability to fully participate in it," she said.

"I strongly believe that there are problems with social media, gaming and screen time in general. But there is no going back, there is no denying that we live in a society where technological advances are accelerating and where online communication is part of our daily lives."

Newland believes that most teenagers will try to get around the law, as confirmed by the results of a poll by national broadcaster ABC. In the poll, which asked more than 17,000 Australian teenagers, 75 percent said they would try to get around the ban, nine percent thought it was a good idea and just six percent said the ban would work well.

While it is widely believed that uncontrolled access to social media can be dangerous for both children and adults, most human rights and children's rights organizations believe that the new law does not address these problems.

Many children feel deprived of information

UNICEF Australia says "the proposed changes will not address the problems young people face when they are online", while the Australian Human Rights Commission says a "blanket" ban is likely to have "negative consequences for the human rights of children and young people".

Kim Osman from the Centre for Digital Media Research at Queensland University of Technology says most children feel marginalised and disappointed by this decision.

Osman and her colleagues found that teenagers are aware of the dangers of social media and want better protection, including better content filtering.

There was also a strong sense that changes to the law would lead to a "loss of community" for young people, especially those who "have found important sources of support on social media. This was particularly true for the LGBTQ community and the young people we spoke to."

What is expected to happen next?

The Australian government will closely monitor the impact of the ban on children's daily lives. Particular focus will be on sleep and circadian rhythms, social interaction, reading and outdoor activities, emotional and mental impacts

Researchers from Stanford University will participate in this process, and they will publicly publish their methods and findings. The aim is for this experiment to serve as a model for future decisions in other countries.

If this project works, we could be looking at a historic moment in the relationship between young people and global technology. If it fails, it will open a new chapter in the debate about constraints, freedom, and responsibility in the digital age.

In both cases, the world is watching closely, trying to get the best out of it, so that in the perhaps near future, it can implement it as well.


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