Australia ban social media

[Colburn_Claret]

Australia have put a ban on U 16s using any form of Social Media. They've put the donkey work onto the sites by putting heavy fines in place for non compliance.

I've thought for many years that if there was just one thing I could do, it would be to do exactly the same. The Internet is a very useful tool, but a very dangerous toy. From cyber bullying, to influencers to black sites, it isn't a place for children. They should be learning how to make real friendships and how to communicate face to face.

For over 16s I'd ban mobiles from school and the workplace too, unless it's necessary as part of the job. Society would be far better off for it.

I hope we follow suit, but somehow I don't think either of our political parties have the bottle.

[nil_desperandum]

I think a lot of countries, including ours, will be following this with interest to see if they can make it work and how it impacts on families.
Political parties will embrace the idea if they think it's popular with the electorate. Most parents would support this I would imagine, but sometimes positive initiatives like this can have unintended consequences.

[ClaretPete001]

Until we get unique Digital IDs it's not going to be easy to enforce I wouldn't have thought.

[ClaretTony]

On the subject of mobile phones, I’m currently at Halifax Station. There is a sign on the stairs in front of me saying not to use mobile phones on the stairs, to keep left and to hold the rail. A lady was doing just that and a young lad running down the stairs run straight into her while using his phone.

[Goliath]

They'll just use something else. It's a really backwards law. You can't just reverse time and put the genie back in the bottle.

[BigGaz]

There's nothing wrong with the sentiment, I get what you are saying and to an extent I agree. Nonetheless, it's all a bit 'old man shouts at clouds' because the internet doesn't work like how governments, entities like the Premier League and people like Elon Musk want it to work, and on the whole, that's a good thing.

If under 16s want to be on Social Media, they will be on Social Media in Australia or otherwise.

[gandhisflipflop]

There's nothing wrong with the sentiment, I get what you are saying and to an extent I agree. Nonetheless, it's all a bit 'old man shouts at clouds' because the internet doesn't work like how governments, entities like the Premier League and people like Elon Musk want it to work, and on the whole, that's a good thing.

If under 16s want to be on Social Media, they will be on Social Media in Australia or otherwise.

What’s Elon musk got to do with anything

[fidelcastro]

What’s Elon musk got to do with anything

I wish he didn't have anything to do with anything.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Well done the Aussies for having a crack at it.

[Andingle]

Makes you wonder how generations managed to get by without mobile phones

[Quicknick]

Australia have put a ban on U 16s using any form of Social Media. They've put the donkey work onto the sites by putting heavy fines in place for non compliance.

I've thought for many years that if there was just one thing I could do, it would be to do exactly the same. The Internet is a very useful tool, but a very dangerous toy. From cyber bullying, to influencers to black sites, it isn't a place for children. They should be learning how to make real friendships and how to communicate face to face.

For over 16s I'd ban mobiles from school and the workplace too, unless it's necessary as part of the job. Society would be far better off for it.

I hope we follow suit, but somehow I don't think either of our political parties have the bottle.

I agree with every word you say.

[Bullabill]

The legislation was rushed through Parliament on the last sitting day for the year with very little proper debate. Nobody knows how it is going to work - I don't think it will. It's all done in a hell of a hurry yet doesn't take effect until 2026!!

[BigGaz]

What’s Elon musk got to do with anything

In Musks case, despite advertising and egging people on to use his own AI, Grok, he believes R&D on AI should be paused or stopped entirely. This is for altruistic reasons and absolutely not driven by his desire to punish and to be able to catch up to the capability of the operators of OpenAI who rejected his wishes to become CEO and have it merge with Tesla/X, no siree.

The link then, is referencing bodies or people with extreme views and attempts to control how people interact with resources on the internet, or how those resources are presented to the public.

[Stanbill05]

Makes you wonder how generations managed to get by without mobile phones

Life was hard work without a mobile phone if you wanted to communicate, navigate, do something or find out anything. I frequently wonder how I survived without a mobile phone and appreciate it more..

[ChorltonCharlie]

I think a lot of countries, including ours, will be following this with interest to see if they can make it work and how it impacts on families.
Political parties will embrace the idea if they think it's popular with the electorate. Most parents would support this I would imagine, but sometimes positive initiatives like this can have unintended consequences.

I doubt most parents would. Having a child at primary school age is a real eye opener to how naïve/stupid/arrogant many parents are when it comes to phones, social media and games with social interactions. We're pretty strict and make use of the phones settings to restrict usage, time, downloads, etc. Many of our kids mates just have everything they want no matter how inappropriate it is.

[ChrisG]

Makes you wonder how generations managed to get by without mobile phones

You could argue the same about any new technology. I imagine they said the same when things like maps and clocks were invented.

"In my day we just looked the sun, and knew where we were going because of the big tree"

[Dyched]

I doubt most parents would. Having a child at primary school age is a real eye opener to how naïve/stupid/arrogant many parents are when it comes to phones, social media and games with social interactions. We're pretty strict and make use of the phones settings to restrict usage, time, downloads, etc. Many of our kids mates just have everything they want no matter how inappropriate it is.

This is what it basically comes down to. **** poor parenting. If a government needs to step in and take control it says a lot.

[Bow]

Want it Australia that blocked u16s from accessing adult websites a while ago? I think it was less than 15 minutes before someone hacked through it.

[jrgbfc]

I'm all for it, but not sure how you police it. Tbh i'm glad i'm not growing up in this day and age.

[ClaretTony]

I doubt most parents would. Having a child at primary school age is a real eye opener to how naïve/stupid/arrogant many parents are when it comes to phones, social media and games with social interactions. We're pretty strict and make use of the phones settings to restrict usage, time, downloads, etc. Many of our kids mates just have everything they want no matter how inappropriate it is.

That sounds about right with a lot of parents

[bfcmik]

Have the Aussies never heard of VPNs? Any 10 year old knows how to put a VPN on their phone, let alone the 14 and 15 year olds.

As was said earlier, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. The only way with any chance at all would be to ban under 16s from having access to a mobile phone or computer at all - like that is ever going to happen.

[gandhisflipflop]

I wish he didn't have anything to do with anything.

I’m glad you won’t get your wish.

[Dyched]

Have the Aussies never heard of VPNs? Any 10 year old knows how to put a VPN on their phone, let alone the 14 and 15 year olds.

As was said earlier, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. The only way with any chance at all would be to ban under 16s from having access to a mobile phone or computer at all - like that is ever going to happen.

Why can’t their parents police this themselves? It’s not difficult at all but they simply can’t be arsed.

[Colburn_Claret]

Why can’t their parents police this themselves? It’s not difficult at all but they simply can’t be arsed.

Sad but true, which is why governments need to make a stand.
Most people can see the faults in other children but are blinkered to the faults of their own.

[Falcon]

This is completely unenforceable.

Obviously put in place by folk with good intentions, but the use of a simple VPN will bypass this law effortlessly.

[ClaretPete001]

Why can’t their parents police this themselves? It’s not difficult at all but they simply can’t be arsed.

Because you'd have to take their PCs and phones off them and they then say 'but I need it for school'

So, in the end you resort to taking the router to bed with you and confiscating all mobile phones up to the point that your kids turn into some weird Amish like cult members living in the 19th century.

It's simply not possible as a parent to police children because a great deal of the resource they require for school are online, their social lives and friends are online. Their parents are online - the world is online and it's only going to get worse.

[Dyched]

Because you'd have to take their PCs and phones off them and they then say 'but I need it for school'

So, in the end you resort to taking the router to bed with you and confiscating all mobile phones up to the point that your kids turn into some weird Amish like cult members living in the 19th century.

It's simply not possible as a parent to police children because a great deal of the resource they require for school are online, their social lives and friends are online. Their parents are online - the world is online and it's only going to get worse.

It’s quite simple to implement. Basically parents used these devices to shut their kid up and keep them quiet from an early age. As long as the kid is quiet whist their friends are round or they’re out for tea they take no interest whatsoever. It takes 5 minutes to check what they are up to if they need these devices each day.

[ClaretDiver]

When you sign up for these social media sites how do they currently verify your age? Genuine question…if there is no verification then the user just puts in a fake date of birth

[Plissken]

Have the Aussies never heard of VPNs? Any 10 year old knows how to put a VPN on their phone, let alone the 14 and 15 year olds.

As was said earlier, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. The only way with any chance at all would be to ban under 16s from having access to a mobile phone or computer at all - like that is ever going to happen.

Ah well, best not to try, then.

[Goliath]

Ah well, best not to try, then.

It's a really basic, badly thought out law that shows absolutely 0 understanding of how it works. Obviously there's an issue but try and solve it with progressive and clever solutions rather than just ban it.

[bfcmik]

Ah well, best not to try, then.

Not what I said. But a lot of government money is going to be spent on this for not a lot of benefit, unless they also ban the use of VPNs and find a good way to police it. This is just another example of politicians doing something for the quick popularity boost of appearing to 'do something'.

Laws are easy to write and vote for but, all too often for laws like this one, either impossible to effectively monitor and enforce or simply too unaffordable to do so. Sure, some poor kids will end up with a conviction and be front page news, and end up doing either some expensive time in a detention centre or some makework community scheme, but the vast majority will just ignore it and get away with it.

[tarkys_ears]

Makes you wonder how generations managed to get by without mobile phones

Vaccines, heating, clothing, food and water too.

**** it, kids have everything these days. Time to start starving em!

[fidelcastro]

I’m glad you won’t get your wish.

Not sure why. The guy is dangerous.

[Colburn_Claret]

It's a really basic, badly thought out law that shows absolutely 0 understanding of how it works. Obviously there's an issue but try and solve it with progressive and clever solutions rather than just ban it.

From the article I read it sounds like the Aussies are putting the onus on the sites to solve the problem. If that's the case, and fines are on the table if they don't find a solution, then it may force the said sites to stop transmitting to Australia altogether.

It will definitely be worth watching what unfolds.

[Stayingup]

Australia does a number of things that are right - unlike us.

[wilks_bfc]

Australia does a number of things that are right - unlike us.

Like stopping people entering the country during the pandemic, but I guess that’s a lot easier when you are an island with no other countries bordering

[Goliath]

Australia does a number of things that are right - unlike us.

They do a lot wrong as well

[Plissken]

Like stopping people entering the country during the pandemic, but I guess that’s a lot easier when you are an island with no other countries bordering

*looks up the route to drive to France*

[Volvoclaret]

Get Mossad involved, they stopped Hezbollah using mobiles.

[BigGaz]

This is what it basically comes down to. **** poor parenting. If a government needs to step in and take control it says a lot.

Say, did you ever get someone older than you to nip into the offie and get you and your pals some cheap ale and/or a deck of Benson and Hedges when you were younger?

[Bullabill]

Australia does a number of things that are right - unlike us.

I'm interested. Could you list a few?

[Stayingup]

Like stopping people entering the country during the pandemic, but I guess that’s a lot easier when you are an island with no other countries bordering

We are an island. Northern Australia is not so far from Islands of Indonesia and they have had boat people and illegal immigration but dealt with it. No hotels for them. Illegal boats are rammed and sunk and the illegals returned and the boat crews locked up. Its also not easy to enter Australia legally. There are criteria to meet which are tough. Also migrants have to swear allegiance to Australia and repeat it anually.

[Stayingup]

I'm interested. Could you list a few?

See below. Oops above. And there are more.

[wilks_bfc]

We are an island. Northern Australia is not so far from Islands of Indonesia and they have had boat people and illegal immigration but dealt with it. No hotels for them. Illegal boats are rammed and sunk and the illegals returned and the boat crews locked up. Its also not easy to enter Australia legally. There are criteria to meet which are tough. Also migrants have to swear allegiance to Australia and repeat it anually.

I know we’re an island. That was my point.

I wasn’t talking about immigration, I was referring to Australia locking down the country and stopping flights in during the covid pandemic and implemented rules immediately, unlike us that welcomed flights in for weeks at the start and then when we finally did decided to do something, it wasn’t in play until “a week on Monday”

[Bullabill]

Illegal boats are rammed and sunk and the illegals returned and the boat crews locked up. Its also not easy to enter Australia legally. There are criteria to meet which are tough. Also migrants have to swear allegiance to Australia and repeat it anually.

Absolutely untrue.

[Dyched]

I know we’re an island. That was my point.

I wasn’t talking about immigration, I was referring to Australia locking down the country and stopping flights in during the covid pandemic and implemented rules immediately, unlike us that welcomed flights in for weeks at the start and then when we finally did decided to do something, it wasn’t in play until “a week on Monday”

Can’t compare. Australia is at the corner of earth where people only go to be in Australia or leave. Heathrow is the busiest airport in the world in terms of connecting flights and being the stepping stone for people to travel from the west to east and back. Imagine the chaos and displacement of people if we shut our borders.

[ArmchairDetective]

Good for them for giving it a go. As stated above, there might be problems with whether it can be implemented. But it gives parents something to think about. Social media can have a negative influence on mental wellbeing for people of all ages but I think we're only just finding out about the long-term impact of spending large amounts of your childhood on social media.

On a separate note in relation to the comment about re: what did we do before mobile phones. It's the maps apps which gets me - it's really strange now to think about going somewhere new/foreign/out there without GPS. It opens the world up to you but also makes it seem smaller.

[Colburn_Claret]

Good for them for giving it a go. As stated above, there might be problems with whether it can be implemented. But it gives parents something to think about. Social media can have a negative influence on mental wellbeing for people of all ages but I think we're only just finding out about the long-term impact of spending large amounts of your childhood on social media.

On a separate note in relation to the comment about re: what did we do before mobile phones. It's the maps apps which gets me - it's really strange now to think about going somewhere new/foreign/out there without GPS. It opens the world up to you but also makes it seem smaller.

I do loads of walking up the Lakes and Dales, and love the comfort of having my OS GPS in my pocket. No matter the cloud cover....
As I said it's a brilliant tool, just a dangerous toy.