A teenager’s perspective on Australia’s social media ban for under-16s

The measure targets 10 of the largest platforms, including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook which were ordered to block children or face big fines. The study found that seven out of 10 children in that age group had been exposed to harmful content and cyber bullying and one out of seven reported the harmful acts. This could pose a threat to a whole new generation of children.

However, 34% of parents said they would “likely” aid their children in breaking the ban. While I agree with this argument, I equally understand the point of view of 68% of parents who support the ban. A ban is not sustainable solution to the teens’ problems; it only gives them a chance to find another option.