Everyday Reflections

I hate to disagree, but I disagree with Australia banning social media for minors. 

In December 2025, the country became the first in the world to implement a social media ban on under-16s. Children and teens are blocked from accessing 10 social media apps — including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Platforms found in violation face penalties of 50 million Australian dollars. 

Several other countries — including France, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Greece, Malaysia, Germany and New Zealand — are also mulling banning/restricting social media access for children. The controls in place are considered insufficient or aren’t being enforced. 

I understand the reasoning that it will safeguard children from cyberbullying, mental health issues and exposure to pornography. The acclaimed Netflix show Adolescence (2025) powerfully highlighted the danger of cyberbullying and incel culture among minors, and its writer also voiced support for a social media ban.

Yet, one could also argue that a ban is nothing but excessive government intervention, infringes on freedom of expression, hinders access to information, and raises privacy concerns. If we look back in history, such restrictive policies and censorship have largely been ineffective and resulted in rebellion, evasion and pushback (read more in the carousel).

It also ignores the realities of the younger generation. Children and teens want to be connected with their peers and they will find ways to bypass a ban. Such policies can inadvertently push them towards even-riskier platforms that lack monitoring. In fact, news reports from Australia suggest that many children have already evaded the ban by using age-assurance tools and VPN.

Tech companies have also highlighted the limitations of age verification methods. Platforms use invasive methods — making inferences linked to online activity, facial estimates from selfies and identity proof documents — even though these aren’t foolproof. 

Nonetheless, this will be a closely watched development as it may set the benchmark for future policy measures worldwide. 

In the second part of this post, we will explore the steps that can be taken to deal with this multifaceted challenge. 

What’s your view on social media bans — can they prove effective in the long run? 

#SocialMediaBan #Australia #SocialMedia #Censorship