# Australia's Upcoming ban on social media for people 16 and under-What exactly does in cover? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950 "2024-11-29T21:24:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/1 "2024-11-29T21:24:24Z")
This is _not_ the place to debate the existence of the upcoming law-This is the place to explain and/or debate the _use_ of the law. What does it cover, what it does not cover, etc. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/2 "2024-11-29T21:25:37Z")
Shouldn’t that be _under,_ not over? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/3 "2024-11-29T21:26:25Z")
Thank you-fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/4 "2024-11-29T21:35:47Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Shouldn’t that be _under,_ not over? Maybe not. It _ **is** _ the southern hemisphere. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/5 "2024-11-29T23:08:31Z")
It’s an interesting question. Does it cover instant messaging services? Comment sections? Message boards? The latter actually scares me a bit. What if a 15-year-old Aussie signs up to the SDMB, and the authorities go after the board? There’s no way we’ll survive that. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/6 "2024-11-29T23:12:04Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s an interesting question. Does it cover instant messaging services? Comment sections? Message boards? Social media platforms, specifically, it appears, though it’s not yet known exactly which ones will be affected. > [@](#): > > The legislation does not specify which platforms will be banned. Those decisions will be made later by Australia’s communications minister, who will seek advice from the eSafety Commissioner - an internet regulator that will enforce the rules. > > However the minister, Michelle Rowland, has said the ban will include Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. Gaming and messaging platforms are exempt, as are sites that can be accessed without an account, meaning YouTube, for instance, is likely to be spared. > **[Australian social media ban on under-16s approved by parliament](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89vjj0lxx9o)** > > The ban aims to reduce "harms" on children and will take at least a year to implement, the PM says. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/7 "2024-11-29T23:14:51Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Social media platforms, specifically, it appears, though it’s not yet known exactly which ones will be affected. Everything on the internet is social media if you try hard enough. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/8 "2024-11-29T23:16:30Z")
That seems drastic. When apparently they have parents who should be monitoring. And making cromulent decisions, about _their_ child. I bet TikTok, Instagram and the many less known places will take a small “who cares” kick in the ankle. Nobody ever died from _no_ social media. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/9 "2024-11-29T23:23:37Z")
And note: > The law specifies that users will not be forced to provide government identification as part of the verification process, a measure that the conservative opposition said was included after they raised concerns about privacy rights. > **[Australia Bans Social Media for Everyone Under 16](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/world/asia/australia-social-media-ban-law.html)** > > The law sets a minimum age for users of platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X. How the restriction will be enforced online remains an open question. Considering that the verification process sounds like it could be a simple checkbox: **I verify I am over 16 years old.** If this was all the verification I have a bad feeling a lot of youths would lie. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/10 "2024-11-30T01:30:41Z")
I think because of a US law many websites in the United States prohibit those under the age of thirteen. So this will probably be enforced in a similar manner. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/11 "2024-11-30T06:21:41Z")
The gov’t rushed the legislation through, there’s no real information about what it will entail. Here in Australia most people think it’ll involve everyone having to get a digital ID to access the internet. Or some of the internet. Or something. And yes, that’s a truly appalling idea, and gets worse the more you think about it. Successive AU gov’ts have a history of creating stupid internet laws that have no effect on the problems they’re trying to fix but make using the internet more annoying for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/12 "2024-11-30T06:24:32Z")
What that be under the guise of “At least we’re doing _something!_”…which almost never turns out for the best. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/13 "2024-12-01T00:08:31Z")
For a variety of reasons this isn’t going to happen. But even if Australian authorities wanted to sanction the SDMB they couldn’t because it has no presence in Australia ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2024, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australias-upcoming-ban-on-social-media-for-people-16-and-under-what-exactly-does-in-cover/1010950/14 "2024-12-01T11:31:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What that be under the guise of “At least we’re doing _something!_”…which almost never turns out for the best. Paired with a heavy dose of “think of the children!” ISTM the law is targeting the more popular social media apps and SDMB is likely not going to attract attention here.