An internationally renowned child safety expert has declared Australia's impending social media ban for children under 16 the single most significant child-protection action ever taken globally, dwarfing all previous efforts.
A David vs Goliath Battle with Tech Titans
Dr Jonathan Haidt, the American social psychologist and author of the bestselling book The Anxious Generation, has issued a stark warning. He predicts the world's powerful tech behemoths will "play dirty" in the coming weeks to discredit Australia's groundbreaking new laws, aiming to protect their lucrative business models.
"We can expect that they will work hard to make it look like the Australia law is not working," Dr Haidt stated. "They play to win, and there’s a lot of money at stake." He suggested companies might even intentionally cause disruptions to adult accounts to generate public backlash.
An Unprecedented Global Experiment Begins
Australia's pioneering legislation, which raises the legal age for social media access from 13 to 16, comes into effect on Wednesday, 10 December 2025. The law was propelled by advocacy from News Corp Australia's Let Them Be Kids campaign.
Dr Haidt emphasised the stakes are incalculably high, with the world observing this unprecedented social experiment. Countries including Greece, the United Kingdom, France, and Fiji have already signalled intentions to follow Australia's lead pending the outcome.
"What Australia did is by far the biggest thing that has ever been done to protect children," Dr Haidt said. "It dwarfs everything else. We can mess around with making algorithms safer... none of that stuff is going to move the needle."
Predicting a Swift Positive Impact
Despite anticipating initial technical glitches, Dr Haidt forecasts visible behavioural changes in Australian children within a few months. He bases this optimism on surveys showing more than half of Gen Z respondents wish social media was never invented.
"They see that it’s a trap, but they just can’t get out of it on their own," he explained. He also referenced his own teenage daughter's school, where a phone ban led to students playing games and talking more within just two weeks.
Dr Haidt believes Australian kids may adapt more easily than adults expect. "My prediction is that Australian kids will surprise adults by being less upset about this than the adults expect," he said.
The Looming Threat of AI Companions
The expert issued a further urgent warning, stating that implementing the social media ban is only the first step. He described AI chatbots and companion technology as the "next uncontrolled mass experiment" targeting children, citing disturbing global cases of AI grooming and coaching suicide.
"We missed the window to act with social media... This time, we will not be able to say we didn’t know," Dr Haidt cautioned, urging proactive measures against AI risks to childhood.
Addressing concerns about censorship and parental choice, Dr Haidt argued the tech industry had already trapped parents in a "collective action" problem. He stressed the law is about contract age, not content blocking, asking: "What is the right age at which your child can sign a contract with a gigantic company that is known to prey on children?"
He acknowledged 100% compliance is unrealistic, but asserted success lies in shifting the social norm. "The norm right now is that kids open their first social media accounts around the age of eight or nine... that all has to stop."
Dr Haidt concluded with a powerful call to action: "If Australia didn’t do this... I think the effect on humanity is incalculable, so it has to be done."
