Australian leader defends social media ban as teens flaunt workarounds

Australia Banned Social Media for Kids Under 16—Should the U.S. Follow Suit?

Australia has already banned social media for kids under 16, and multiple U.S. states have cut off accounts, citing numerous studies on kids’ mental health.

Teens Are Already Getting Around Australia's Social Media Ban

Australia's social media ban for under-16s has come into effect, but teens are using VPNs and AI to bypass it. Critics warn the law is failing to stop access.

Editorial: Keep young keiki off social media | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Since the advent of smartphones and digital devices, new generations of kids worldwide are growing up amid an explosion of social media — being exposed at ever-younger ages to the likes of TikTok, Instagram and X. And increasingly, such addictive apps are tightening their pervasive, negative grip on young minds. Last week, Australia’s government countered with forceful action, a world first: it banned social media accounts for all youngsters und…

Kids might not doomscroll, but they might be gaming with predators

Australia’s under-16 social media ban may be reshaping how young people spend time online, but it has not removed them from digital risk. Teenagers are not simply bypassing the ban. Many are already using platforms and other digital spaces not included in the ban’s checklist, some of which experts argue may be far more dangerous. One of the most overlooked areas of exposure is gaming. While often viewed as separate from social media, gaming can …

Reddit: Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Creates ‘Serious Privacy and Political Expression Issues’

The legal challenge claims the new law inhibited Australians’ 'implied freedom of political communication' and does not significantly protect under-16s.