“They’ll Find a Way Around It”: Teens React to Australia’s Social Media Ban

Social media is part of everyday life for many teenagers. It’s how they talk to friends, share their thoughts, and keep up with the world.

But starting this December, teens under the age of 16 in Australia might be locked out of their favorite platforms.

That’s because the government wants to ban them from using social media entirely, reports Reuters.

Massive Fines

To do this, tech companies will need to prove users are old enough. They could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars if they don’t take “reasonable steps” to stop younger users.

Some companies already require users to be at least 13, but the new law goes further.

The government tested different kinds of age-checking software with students.

Thirteen-year-old Jasmine Elkin, who took part in the test, said she was surprised at how well the software worked.

Some programs could even guess her age down to the month. Still, she said it wouldn’t stop kids from finding ways around it. “You can just ask your older sibling to take the photo for you,” she said.

Testing Different Methods

The trial involved 30 students trying out five different tools. Some methods used selfies.

Others asked for credit card details or required users to type in their birthdate. Not all tools were accurate. One guessed a 13-year-old was 42. Some were easy to trick.

Andrew Hammond, from the tech company running the trial, said the selfie-based tools were the most reliable.

But even then, results weren’t perfect. The government hasn’t decided how accurate these tools need to be. Is 70% enough? Or should they work almost every time?

Teenagers who took part in the trial had mixed feelings. Some said they didn’t mind.

Others said it would be hard to lose access to platforms like Snapchat or Instagram. Many agreed kids would try to beat the system anyway.

The government will review the trial results later this month. No final decision has been made, but Australia could be the first country in the world to block social media for all under-16s.