Why are some countries banning teens from social media?- The Global Story podcast, BBC World Service

[@BBCWorldService]

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[@seemlyme]

Social Media ban is for; Your trying to prevent them from hearing the real news & have them controlled by what you want them to learn, hear & see

[@maneshipocrates2264]

Not only kids...ban adults from these awful social media platforms.

[@kriscrystaline9793]

Man after seeing the Lilly Phillips garbage I think banning should be mandatory

[@Insomniac_tv]

Yes! we need more censorship and government oversight because privacy is a commodity

[@IntrovertRedacted]

Privacy isn't real and we don't own any.

[@_SYDGAMING_]

​@kriscrystaline9793 the fact she didn't know how stds works is baffling

[@LinkEX]

Banning Social Media is about as realistic as banning tobacco alcohol at this point: Justified, but unfeasible. It should receive the justified warning labels, though.

[@CheCosaTesoro]

Parents......don't buy your kids smart phones. It's that simple.

[@himalidealwis8555]

That is! Being a parent as long as they do have the guts to say NO. Because, if your child get bullied, a criminal, a drug addiction none come to ease the pain and suffering. The people who say that ban is not good, preventing digital literacy etc. First thing in our life cycle we should as adult guide children what to do in our different ages- Now everything is in a mess, kids try everything before they turn to their adulthood and ruin their life!

[@juliettst5203]

Easy to say.

[@patdent]

@@juliettst5203 And? Does that mean you're just too spineless to do it?

[@Savageshrek53]

I bought my own smart phone worked hard for it and I’m going to put a fake age in and pass this law

[@CheCosaTesoro]

@Savageshrek53 good for you. But the majority of even under 15 year olds don't work to 1. Buy a smartphone and 2. Pay for the mobile service. It's the parents.

[@Spooky_Platypus]

What kids don’t get is how much happier we were as kids just one generation ago. I grew up playing Oregon trail as a gen x/ millennial cusper, but we still played outside, had educations and common sense, less violence and way less self hate and mental health issues. You don’t have to have something attached to you to feel like a whole person. I think this is good. Frankly I think we should ALL ditch hateful places like X and IG. We’d all be the better for it.

[@___Truth___]

OMG OREGON TRAIL! Omg I remember as a kid in the early 2000s, think like 2001 or 2002 when i was maybe 6 or 7 how much I always couldn't wait for computer lab that we had as an elective every Tuesday and Thursday, I loved the caravan. I also remember that StoryBook game we had on the computer

[@charzemc]

Times have changed grannie. You didn't have SM in childhood or adolescence so you are not really qualified to have an opinion on it., also its a load of crap that there was less violence, we had many near death experiences as children.

[@harperguo379]

Adding onto this because I did grow up with SM - compared to the stories that older adults talk about their childhood, kids now have a lot less freedom to move around and need to be chaperoned to about everything with or without social media.

[@Frockyfladorities]

Sorry gramps but times are changing and children like social media wether you like it or not, we should stop forcing our childhoods onto children

[@twilightincosmos]

Kids like everything but that doesn't mean they need to have it...many young people are already suffering from neck and back issues that comes from having developed text neck...they are suffering at an afe meant to freely play outside and see rhe world around them..​@@Frockyfladorities

[@Namokovaoffical]

What truly doesn't make sense about this ban is that a 13 year old is banned from using an app like snapchat, but is still allowed to access an 18+ site

[@woodworksbrighton5355]

I dont understand how it can be so hard to pass a law. You cant drink under 18. You cant drive under 18 ( or with out a licence) you cant smoke under ???? Everyone is just tip toe around. Explain we you have to be 18 to do most things?

[@markd.9538]

Enforcement. A law with no ability to be enforced is useless. At least with alcohol it is restricted at point-of-sale (hence, the laws around selling grog to kids is enforceable). If parents give kids phones, and sign them up for social media sites and apps, no one would be the wiser. There’s no way to prevent its use.

[@paulossiter]

Exactly ​@@markd.9538

[@woodworksbrighton5355]

@@markd.9538 Yep, I am sure we all drank under the age of 18, and drove with out licences. But if it is illegal, some parents will follow the law, so that is half the problems solved. Enforce it the same way you would if you were caught giving your minor alcohol or let to drive. I guess the big problem is the " invisible danger" Is there a strong reason 18 is the legal limit? Look at UAS, you can drive at 16. So why is this not the case world wide? But then you cant drink till 21? Why is this not the case world wide? Just thinking out aloud. At the end of the day, it is all down to the parents who buy the smart phone, there are many other alternatives.

[@user-user-rxtxpxdx]

Not only Australia, we all should do it and we all need to make sure it works!

[@paulc6766]

If only it applied to main stream media as well given the lies that are promulgated.

[@patdent]

@@paulc6766 This is a completely irrelevant comment. The word 'lie' has become a blanket word for anything you disagree with. Not sure why you feel the need to single out main stream media, which is what you have been watching. Here's a clue: BBC.

[@user-user-rxtxpxdx]

@@paulc6766 anyone can lie, main stream media or not-so-mainstream media, we have to be aware of that by taking everything carefully.

[@svetlankas1984]

sure thing! lead the way! it’s all just adults yapping. there is absolutely no way you yourself will go ahead and ditch your phone, social media etc. it’s all part of our living now. and instead of fighting it, educate yourself in how it works, for goodness sake

[@user-user-rxtxpxdx]

@svetlankas1984 what do you mean by how it works? Like, how does the technology works? Or how does the manipulation works? Educating yourself is part of fighting against it. You can't fight without knowing what are you up against.

[@NataliaBazj]

Back when I was young and started using the internet, the purpose of an account was simply to have a set of bookmarks, like what I had already seen and what I wanted to keep track of. It had nothing to do with my 'real' live off the site. The only requirement was to specify a nickname that would be unique. Today, they ask about citizenship, age, tax payment report, my grandmother's maiden name and hell knows what else. That sucks!

[@serp2405]

Welcome to dark web. No questions asked :))

[@IntrovertRedacted]

Facts

[@m.a.b.4104]

8:55 no real evidence that for example gaming addictions are a real addiction, definitely not true. As someone who has 3+ decades of substance abuse the excessive playing of Tony Hawk's proskating in my twenties proved to me gaming is mentally addictive similar to gambling etc, if not physically addictive like smoking and hard substances.

[@sinhle610]

I was about to make the same comment. How is it still controversial? Observe people around you n see for yourself. As a teacher, I can see how my students react when I tell them to put their phones away. Some look like they are about to kill me when I have to ask them to stop checking phones in the classroom... There are plenty of benefits but the drawbacks are tremendous, especially when the majority of our population still don't understand how the algorithms on these platforms work. Also, no need to worry about the lack of interesting contents. We have had more than enough to entertain for the next century if we try working on our boredom issues

[@m.a.b.4104]

@sinhle610 yes, I'm on the same page. The vague comments about how we are unsure about the harms and do they outweigh the benefits are driving me crazy. Anything that's this widespread and effective at delivering and controlling dopamine hits is going to cause major habit related problems, especially for kids and teenagers.

[@yoshua9676]

The richest man in history (Elon Musk) plays video games regularly and always has.

[@sinhle610]

@ if you compare yourself or 99.9% of the general population to someone like Elon Musk, is that even sensible? His brain is another level, which makes him a billionaire, n the rest of us average human beings become addicts. Sorry but we need some reality check to get out of the illusion that we're all alike then compare yourself with these geniuses

[@yestoglobalpeace]

One thing is for sure: kids don't learn common sense on social media. And that would be what the world needs desperately, now and even more so in future!

[@SimplyGamingandTech]

Doesn't it depend what they watch and how impressionable they are ? Don't you talk and really listen to your kids ? They are smarter than you think.

[@ms-abbas]

It's for us and our kids not for the government. They've done their part. Now parents, do your part

[@erican.c.2176]

To all parents you are the gate keeper to your children safety. It is not just big companies and the government responsibilities. You are the parent, back to regular flip phones for emergencies use only.

[@rui569]

There are PLENTY evidence of addiction.

[@XCAVVVx]

It is useless because the parents allow them to use the internet with no supervision.

[@Bondisapro]

very good call. If the adult like this, the children is like in a jail.

[@Etheral101]

Austrailia shouldn't have any crime since they banned over 18 video games. Has the crime stopped yet?

[@paullau5436]

The issues is not teenage how to use smartphone or social media, the point is how adult create a social media, but restrict the young people to use, it does not make any sense!

[@luminousfractal420]

well if the advertisers wont stop aiming at vulnerable children. its child abuse.

[@user-user-rxtxpxdx]

The view of the big corporation is moot here, it shouldn't be discussed cause they're just using kids to make money. Now they're letting 10 year old kid use to VR, then they'll let 8 years and so on... This way they're just increasing their target market.

[@indrapratama7668]

Yep. It's a slippery slope.

[@SimplyGamingandTech]

And they are teaching kids how to use the technology that will play a big part in their future and the ability to learn about understanding how to make money online and help secure their future. And this is a bad thing ? We didn't learn about making or managing money. I was a sales consultant for years and it took me leaving my work at 51 and learning how to build my own business online using KZbin to learn new ways. I'm teaching my kids the same fundamentals. Keeping your head in the sand just gets you overtaken, you just don't see it.

[@user-user-rxtxpxdx]

@SimplyGamingandTech yeah that's exactly how they want to justify their act. They want to make it sound like understanding money is the only thing in the world. People who built the Internet didn't learn about money in their childhood but, they changed the world and they did it not because they understood money.

[@SimplyGamingandTech]

@user-user-rxtxpxdx and the supermarkets and fast food giants don't do the same to their employees? I'm not sure what it is like where you live, but life is expensive, fast-paced, and competitive. What are your ideas for restructuring the entire planet to stop focusing on money and self-improvement ? It's not the way we knew. Ours wasn't the way our parents knew, and so on. By procrastinating that big business is influencing our kids, you have lived in denial of advertising for the past 40 years. There are places where they teach true hate to fellow humans. Lives are taken daily, children are bred( not brought up) instilled with hate and prejudice for things they don't understand,oppressed by their governments, manipulated by the system that perverted their way of life. Our kids just want to use the internet to talk to their friends, play games and learn new way. When you look and really tke in what's happening in the world around us, What's wrong with that ?

[@banksiasong]

This law will give some rights back to parents to say “no you can’t because it’s ILLEGAL”. So much pressure on both children and parents by the most vile $ Billionaires profiteering from children’s educational journey, and destroying social cohesion.

[@eskimo4130]

What i find interesting in this debate that circles the web often, is that people don't talk about how poorly developed these apps and websites are.

[@ShehabAhmed-u1i]

Restrictions over posting material and quantity can be successful preliminary initiative before Restrictions over social media depend on age.

[@KamiSars]

Gen z adult here. I was a Kid when Smartphones just Game out and tbh seeing people being addicted (even me sometimes), seeing I can understand the decision a little, even though it’s unfair for those who are responsible. All that misinformation or harmful content, the toxicity being there - I and a lot of my friends say it should be more restricted. But tbh I also think it can’t be always the solution to cut everything for the kids, when I mostly see adults posting that stuff. I think you should get these troubled people out of these platforms and then restrict a little more to make it more safer for younger ones.

[@elliebellie7816]

It's not going to work if it's dependent on parental supervision. Most parents don't want to supervise their children and their online activity because it takes away from their own internet use.

[@svetlankas1984]

I’m actually appalled at the amount of adults wanting to prohibit things for their kids. It’s a hard topic, and as adults we mostly have no idea ourselves how social media platforms work, what’s behind, what quality content even looks like. We’re in darkness ourselves, and instead of educating ourselves more and educating our kids so they become mindful users, we just want to prohibit the whole thing at once. what about the kids whose only community they feel they belong is online!? we’re putting our kids in a much much bigger danger with this. 💔

[@sidon7268]

Nice try. but actually that policy is not easy to apply kids. nowadays using smart phone is one of the tool for being use to modern and social life. any kids not accept such parent's order. parent's can suggest them to share their interest and advise properly to balance with social media. so It should be seeking to educate parents and adults, restrict false advertisement of social media company, not ban to kids.

[@serp2405]

Looks like NZ and/or PNG will have a massive rose of young users:)))

[@andrewharris1837]

It all comes down to Parenting but Internet companies should be monitored on what content they are permitting

[@Think_77]

A large percentage of kids would prefer to live in a world without social media, they are only on these platforms not to feel left out. This law is about normalising it for kids not to be on social media, just as is expected by society and parents that under 18s don't drink alcohol. Sure, it's hard to prevent all under 18s from drinking and some will but it's more of an exception.

[@SimplyGamingandTech]

@Think_77 where are you getting your statistics ? From targeted demographics that have either had issues or are too far removed from the change in our young people to want change their own perspectives. That think that forcing the childhood we had onto them will make the world a happy place ? Maybe you should get a Snippet into mine. Long before the internet... In a world of billions of people, we are all vulnerable the risk of influence. Good and bad. Or have bad things only happened since the internet and social media ? And aren't you on social media now ? Government statistics say that people want to limit people's views online. We might not always agree, but open discussion is always the first step forwards. Cheers

[@simonwilliams3227]

The quote decided it for me, and I'm sorry, but I can't remember who to attribute it to but 'mobile phones don't give our kids access to the world, it gives the world access to our kids'.

[@chrispanda21]

Wish there would be a feature blocking adults from texting and driving…. But nope.. kids, they are a problem….

[@AMEM-t8z]

There used to be an app for teachers and students. A social media kinda like sharing app. It was released before covid. Where is it now?

[@Julsnalice]

Everyone will have to prove there age regardless if they are 100 or 12. That information is going to be stored somewhere where its vulnerable to alternate uses or being stolen.

[@IntrovertRedacted]

Yeah. Owning a phone or a pc is going to turn into government property. Make sure people are not on sites they don't agree with. Jk. 1984

[@Bob-t8l]

That's what this is all about. During COVID and The Voice thing last year the government blamed anonymous people spreading misinformation for the riots and people voting NO. So this is all about making Adults show ID so they know who to arrest.

[@AhHyn]

Use the network carrier to regulate the APP or URL

[@ninirema4532]

Very great news ❤👏👏

[@Foodandtravel86]

To be honest, it’s also me who is spending more than 7/8 hours every day on social media. There is no fruitful things for me, so far it’s always about scrolling up and down. I m completely addicted to the social network which is stopping my personal growth, career growth, financially making me weak, barring me to spend time for family. I mean I am just into it. I m looking for many ways to get rid of it but I am fully failing to stay away from phone

[@caracroix]

shouldnt there be legislation for parents/guardians regarding parenting techniques/strategies regarding social media/mobile device utilization as well? in the same way, create government-subsidized programs that help those from previous generations understand the current generation

[@haha-eg8fj]

It will only boost sales of VPNs.

[@SimplyGamingandTech]

My 12 year old had his tv hooked up with a personal vpn and then came and showed us how to do it😂

[@袁大陸]

Bad people become old ,not old people become bad. Bad young people not under control, they will find their ways.

[@glandacindy]

I don't like what he says it's positive in China since Chinese kids have tons of the same kinds of issues. What's worse, they spent their parents's money on social media such as Douyin.

[@AMEM-t8z]

Why not make facebook kids? We can't avoid the use of social media. Control, regulate (by parents) yes. Facebook kids for messaging and sharing infos. With adult admin and moderators. 😂 And AIs too.

[@SIDTerces]

Ban TikTok. Play outside with smart friends, not criminals. Kids should have dumb phones not smart phones.

[@90taetaeya]

Sounds Authoritarian

[@MachFiveFalcon]

Laws like these are ripe for overreach. The NSA in the US is bad enough - ID requirements to use social media could make invasions of privacy even worse.

[@IntrovertRedacted]

It's how the reset works.

[@sakumina]

Good decision. Make sure schools are not asking kids to make char groups n stuff. Really not helping if they constantly on phone 😅

[@abdurrouf3865]

Your discussion want to see in the display. Thanks.

[@superiorSam9718]

No

[@lucillevd3826]

Wow thats brilliant. Well done Australia!

[@SRWJ]

The majority of Australians do NOT agree with this ban.

[@கோபிசுதாகர்]

Why?

[@IntrovertRedacted]

Freedom of expression.

[@கோபிசுதாகர்]

@@IntrovertRedacted for children? 😅 Let them live their childhood lmao

[@IntrovertRedacted]

@கோபிசுதாகர் 😂 no for aliens

[@கோபிசுதாகர்]

@@IntrovertRedacted why would children need freedom of expression on social media? It is quite ridiculous. They have not matured yet. They are impressionable, so social media is a net negative

[@Deathwish026]

it will be less effective than 16 year olds not getting alcohol...

[@pragueexpat5106]

I doubt kids under 16 can use VPNs as most requires subscription, so the kids needs a debit/credit card to pay for it.

[@elliotoliver8679]

Nonsense

[@patdent]

A VPN needs to be paid for. The parents of under 16s hold the purse strings and can prevent this.

[@CulturePhilter]

There are free VPNs. They aren’t necessarily safe, might actually be creating a back door to your data to hackers in some cases, but that won’t stop an uneducated child from using them in the same way that many exposed parent’s computers to all sorts of viruses by using Limewire etc.. in the late 90s and early 2000s

[@jamesbishop9156]

Ya right! Put children's faces in data collections! Stupid!

[@paullau5436]

The main factor that Au will ban the social medial from under 16 age, because social medial firm has not funded the AU political parties. Paid the bill, you would be free!

[@patdent]

If you can't spot AI when you're 16, how is it right to expose 10-year-olds to it?

[@serp2405]

It's gonna be easier to buy a gun on dark web than to register on Instagram. Great gob!

[@sophie-963]

This is Australia not North Korea

[@kriscrystaline9793]

Are you okay with your child hearing about Lilly Philips get graped by 101 men in the span of 16 hrs. Cry, then be traumatise physically from the process?? Its a legitimate thing and It’s all over social media….. BAN IT!

[@kriscrystaline9793]

Are you okay with your child seeing Lilly Phillips be traumatised sexually by 101 men in the span of 16 hrs and cry after? Legitimate thing on social media right now

[@kevoreilly6557]

😂 … I think you’re making the point

[@RDawson-q6m]

It should work if we treat our neighbour the same

[@MunisxonQulbekova]

Good choice, teenagers will have a lot of time for getting knowledge and work on skills

[@Moderating2025]

Beta, focus on your studies! 📚 Your future depends on it! 🌟 Hard work leads to success. 💪 Once you excel, everything else will follow. 🎯 Stay disciplined and keep your goals in sight. You're doing great, keep pushing! 🙌 Success is just around the corner! 🚀📈"

[@damon4802]

When I was growing up everyone had a copy of the best bits from Lady Chatterly'' Lover. Of course it won't work.

[@luizalexandre2204]

Austrália is ❤❤❤

[@nanettej9760]

Be good to get rid of the awfully sad kid influencers situation too

[@rp6122]

my favorite part of austrailia is how this is a crisis. milk this country for al its worth and keep em thinin this is the issue. yay money

[@jieunkim2703]

Social media should be banned for all

[@enggarganteng6745]

😂😂😂

[@Bondisapro]

This is a bad decision. we gonna lose all the memory we had from our life.

[@patdent]

The fact that billionaires want children on their websites because children create entertaining 'content' is hardly a reason for allowing our children to be exploited in this way.

[@svetlankas1984]

well don’t allow! the government has nothing to do with our private lives, no?

[@zaidsayed3222]

I hope it works.

[@EnjoyMoto]

It should be banned for everyone. Or these companies must delete the endless feed.

[@jahfehkah]

This has nothing to do with child safety and everything to do with bringing in a digital IDs for everybody, something that the Australian Government has wanted to bring in for years (Australia Card). The Bullying will just move elsewhere, existed before social media and unfortunately will still exist afterwards.

[@haha-eg8fj]

Douyin is just same shit as TikTok. Don’t be fooled by some of those videos posted by someone who doesn’t even understand Chinese.

[@Jozephson]

Well done Australia

[@ImMr.B]

Good!

[@AMEM-t8z]

Oh.. ok. 😅

[@Savageshrek53]

Kids watching this use fake ages ok 👍 but only use KZbin and stuff for school help

[@michelipires2240]

They will develop other kind of addiction in the smartphone.

[@brianlee3508]

Its doesnt matter if such ban will work. Its an addiction, n people will find ways to get around the ban to feed their addiction. However such ban sent a clear message that soical media unregulated in the name of free speech n expression can be a toxic addiction.

[@Redpoppyfieldsturnedwheatfield]

They will find a way around

[@kevoreilly6557]

All social media is harmful

[@booradley0x0]

It’s going to work, research says so. Australia has always been a leader and not afraid to take a stance.

[@SRWJ]

@@booradley0x0 this comment is so wrong on so many levels! Research says the opposite (that passing this as a law will not work) - banning children from screens on a household level on the other hand, does work. Australia has never been a leader in anything but sport.

[@zedddddddddddddddd]

We don’t actually know what “it” is yet. Bans also tend not to work especially when kids are more tech savvy than adults. Education of parents, kids, and teachers works though and will have benefits that last past the age ban.

[@wdp7128]

This like trying to prevent the sun from rising in the east.

[@SaneWilliam]

This is marvellous as well as the foremost step

[@hayeshagamage7050]

Now too late

[@leemccabemccabe5627]

I Do hope SO ! 💯 🙏

[@rollingmancave4547]

Hold all Social Media including Mass Messaging Apps like Telegram liable and responsible for all Disinformation on their platforms.

[@paradise9981]

Great

[@francesconiccolai6592]

From Australia ....to the World ....Social Media with 16 or 18 years ....for Childrens health ....and also your Parents 🥳

[@tusharbhosle5937]

Brilliant 👍

[@yeboiii7268]

I wonder what if they start using their parents social media 😂

[@haha-eg8fj]

They can just logon from other people’s devices. Not necessarily their parents.

[@jahoyhoy9097]

Good job, Australia! Thanks to this movement, Florida is following through with its own social media ban!

[@amritaparbhunath258]

Kathak dance music

[@Insomniac_tv]

People who believe in censorship 👇

[@pipelee727]

The only excuse for using tik tok is good for adolescents’ creative thinking? 😅😅😅😅 there are too many ways to improve creative thinking. You guys should talk about more about mental damage, less patience, less concentration which are all imposed by these short clips. I see my students can twist their waist like zombies for hours in front of phones.🤮🤢

[@enggarganteng6745]

I really want this issue being being up on the public😂😂😂😂😂

[@ufongwong5778]

It also work in China, but why medias say that it's negative.

[@rosaliabonayog0001]

😊🎉 great laws..

[@mihaelalotrean662]

Hope it works

[@graphdatascientist]

Ban should be lifted to age 26

[@inbb510]

Simple solution: don't buy your kids phones or video games.

[@svetlankas1984]

ah yeah! you probably don’t have teenage kids 😂✌️

[@inbb510]

@svetlankas1984 so? Your child isn't your friend. You are their parent. It is a parents' active *choice* to buy them mobile phones. If you cower to their demands, YOU are responsible for the consequences of that.

[@svetlankas1984]

@@inbb510 lol

[@Betty-q3c3q]

Thanks for the analysis! Just a quick off-topic question: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). Could you explain how to move them to Binance?

[@raokumaran6187]

😂

[@Edgar2023ES]

Great job, Australia! We heva to protect the future. We can't exchange lives and the future for money. The world needed to follow its example.