Displaying items by tag: under 16s

The impending ban on social media access for under-16s in Australia has sparked confusion, concern, and debate among students, parents, experts, and global observers. From 10 December, platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and others must demonstrate effective age verification or face major fines. Schools are scrambling to prepare teens for losing access to their accounts, photos, and online communities. Tech companies are rolling out facial age-estimation tools and other verification methods, though questions remain about accuracy and accessibility for older teens. Many young content creators fear losing hard-won followings, while others, like students at phone-free leadership programmes, describe unexpected freedom and richer real-life connections. Advocates warn that some teens rely on social media for support networks and could be pushed toward more dangerous spaces. The policy, inspired partly by concerns over youth mental health, has drawn both strong political backing and legal challenges claiming that it restricts young people’s rights. Other nations are watching closely as similar proposals emerge worldwide.