Ban What: Social Media? Or Lazy Parents?

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Australia just fired the opening shot in what global media now calls a “world-first” attempt to ban social media for kids under 16. The new Online Safety Amendment went into effect on December 10th, forcing platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube to block all accounts suspected of belonging to minors or face massive penalties. Advocates are celebrating. Bureaucrats are thrilled. And governments in Europe and Asia are already eyeing their own versions of this approach.