Australian children under 16 will be restricted from accessing social media from December 10 under world-first laws. The ban, enforced by the eSafety Commissioner, requires platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from having accounts, with fines up to $50 million for non-compliance.
Cleo Waike, a 14-year-old boarder from Papua New Guinea at Townsville Grammar School, relies on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram to communicate with family and friends. She fears the ban will cut off communication, as she does not know any phone numbers. Her visits home cost over $1,200 return, making social media her primary link.
Dane Olsen, a 15-year-old boarder from Melbourne, sees potential positives in reducing screen time but believes restrictions should be left to parents, not the government. He said, 'If they allow me to do it, I reckon I should be allowed to be on it.'
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the onus is on social media platforms to inform users and manage appeals. However, Makayla Royan, a boarder from Mapoon, said her friends were unaware of the ban until recently.
Richard Stokes, head of the Australian Boarding Schools Association, stressed the need for extra support to prevent isolation, especially for students far from home. The ban excludes platforms like Messenger, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids, but the list may evolve.
