Teens under 16 years old in Australia were in for a rude awakening when the new social media ban came into effect on December 10.
On November 21, 2024, the law restricting social media from people under 16 was proposed. Now, a year later, the law has come into effect.
Ten different social media platforms are affected by this ban, including: Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Youtube, Threads, Reddit, Twitch and Kick.
While some people are enraged by this ban, the Australian government has some statistics backing up the ban. According to CNN, the Australian government explains how screen time is not good for children, and that it slows down social development.
While this ban is doing away with social media from kids under 16, these kids are not giving up yet. Many are protesting, and some are finding ways to get around the ban.
One way that they are protesting are school walks out, while they are also planning discussions to find solutions. They are getting around the ban by using other people to get past the face ID. According to the BBC, kids that are settling with the idea of the ban claim that soon they will adapt, and that the ban will not be so bad.
