Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN)’s Post

Did you know UK Considers Social Media Ban for Under-16s? The UK government is considering a potential ban on social media for under-16s as part of efforts to enhance online safety, according to Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. Speaking about the initiative, Kyle emphasized the need for evidence-driven action and pledged to enforce the Online Safety Act (OSA), which demands stricter accountability from tech companies. Inspired by similar steps in Australia, the proposal has sparked debate, with critics arguing it addresses only a fraction of the broader cultural and technological challenges. Meanwhile, the OSA is set to roll out next year, imposing severe penalties on non-compliant platforms and encouraging industry-wide safety measures, such as age verification and restrictions on harmful content. #socialmedia #onlinesafety #nextyear #severepenalties #australia #osa #rollout #mediaban #ukgovernment #peterkyle #techcompany #safetymeasures #ageverification #socialmediaban #theukgovernment #communication #social #media #efforts #effort #government #safety #initiative #technology #evidence #action #act #tech #online #company

Did you know UK Considers Social Media Ban for Under-16s? The UK government is considering a potential ban on social media for under-16s as part of efforts to enhance online safety, according to Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. Speaking about the initiative, Kyle emphasized the need for evidence-driven action and pledged to enforce the Online Safety Act (OSA), which demands stricter accountability from tech companies. Inspired by similar steps in Australia, the proposal has sparked debate, with critics arguing it addresses only a fraction of the broader cultural and technological challenges. Meanwhile, the OSA is set to roll out next year, imposing severe penalties on non-compliant platforms and encouraging industry-wide safety measures, such as age verification and restrictions on harmful content. #socialmedia #onlinesafety #nextyear #severepenalties #australia #osa #rollout #mediaban #ukgovernment #peterkyle #techcompany #safetymeasures #ageverification #socialmediaban #theukgovernment #communication #social #media #efforts #effort #government #safety #initiative #technology #evidence #action #act #tech #online #company

A Labor-led parliamentary committee has urged the federal government to appoint a Digital Affairs minister to coordinate the regulation of social media and other digital platforms, including across privacy, competition and online safety. ACCC Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Office of the Australian Information Commissioner eSafety Commissioner #socialmedia #digital #platforms #regulation #privacy #competition #safety #ministry #tech #media

Social media companies need to be held accountable for what young people can see and do on their platforms, the most difficult part is that many parents will create accounts and put false details in to give their kids access to social media, even now with the age limit being 13, but not enforced. Or the kids will create their own with false details given an opportunity to. Young “celebrities” who have “account managed by mum and dad” in their bio are the hardest to see as these kids cannot understand the visibility their social media accounts have. A societal shift is needed to steer young people away from wanting to be the next “influencer” or feeling left out because they don’t have a particular social media account. Kids will find a way to use things they are denied, we need to help them learn to how to use the internet as safely as possible.

south africa should do the same

I've got too many thoughts about this one (no 3 is probably my biggest question!!): 1) How will it be policed? Kids and teens faking their ages has been happening since the dawn of time; a ban won't stop this. 2) In the context of grooming and CSE, how will this help? Groomers and abusers will still find ways of contacting children and teens. 3) Still in the context of grooming and CSE, will there also be additions to stop 'sharenting' from parents? It's all very well banning children and teens, but what about educating parents? It's estimated that around 50% of child p*rnography images on the internet originate from innocent images shared by parents of their own children; these images are then taken and edited for disgusting purposes. Will such a ban help with this?

What if a global ban on social media for under-16s were to take effect? The implications for a digitally divided country like Nepal are complicated. Surely such a ban "could" help protect children in Nepal from exposure to inappropriate content and online abuse often associated with social media, and provide an opportunity for children to focus on education, creativity, and personal development without the distractions of online platforms, but it also risks widening the digital divide further. Children might and will still find ways to circumvent restrictions and access alternative digital tools which may not be well-regulated and harder to monitor - increasing the risk of exposure to online abuse and inappropriate content. In areas where digital infrastructure is already limited, such a ban could reduce any exposure many children have to digital technology altogether, deepening inequalities in digital skills and access to information. Globally, this policy could create a generation that is less digitally savvy, potentially disadvantaging them in an increasingly digital economy. For countries like Nepal, where digital transformation is still in its early stages, an under-16 ban will obstruct efforts to bridge the digital divide by restricting young people’s engagement with technology.  To balance safety and access, Nepal should focus on promoting safe digital practices, localized content, and integrating digital literacy into education, rather than imposing outright bans.

I fully support the idea of banning social media for under-16s. It adds unnecessary pressure, creates another avenue for bullying, and fosters unhealthy competition. With the rise of easily accessible face-altering tools—which, I’ll admit, even I’ve used—it becomes even harder for young people to distinguish reality from manipulated images. This can lead to harmful comparisons and negatively impact their self-esteem and mental well-being during such a critical stage of brain development. Protecting young minds from these influences is crucial.

The UK government is considering a potential ban on social media for under-16s as part of efforts to enhance online safety, according to Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. Speaking about the initiative, Kyle emphasized the need for evidence-driven action and pledged to enforce the Online Safety Act (OSA), which demands stricter accountability from tech companies. Inspired by similar steps in Australia, the proposal has sparked debate, with critics arguing it addresses only a fraction of the broader cultural and technological challenges. Meanwhile, the OSA is set to roll out next year, imposing severe penalties on non-compliant platforms and encouraging industry-wide safety measures, such as age verification and restrictions on harmful content. #socialmedia #australia #rollout #ukgovernment #peterkyle #communication #government #media #technologyisawesome #evidence #tech #critic