defrost 2 days ago
In earlier today AU news:

How teens are already using their parents to get around Australia’s social media ban

  ‘I just put my mum’s face in for the facial verification and it worked,’ a 13-year-old told Crikey. 
~ https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/12/04/social-media-ban-parent...
rainonmoon 2 days ago
eSafety’s line against this sort of bypass is they’re mandating that bans are arbitrated based on user activity and behaviour. So the reality is that the government is attempting to force companies to increase their surveillance of children (and every other user in the process).
greatgib 2 days ago
I sincerely hope that this kid generation will take revenge of all the old fart politicians and lobbyist that pushed for that when they get older. Like passing laws forcing everyone after 60 in retirement home with a ban of internet and tv for them...
washadjeffmad 2 days ago
Somehow, continuing the trend, this will affect none of the people responsible and only harm Millennials.
Kim_Bruning 2 days ago
Some reporters are starting to compare the big social media giants to the old tobacco firms.

We know that some of the engagement algorithms in use are exploitative. We know that people are susceptible to them. It's quite typical that children get protected against exploitation before adults are.

I just hope non-harmful media don't get tarred with the same brush.

Garvi 2 days ago
I'd be curious as to how one would define this "non-harmful" media? Seems like the linchpin to our future.
estimator7292 2 days ago
Look at mastodon. Absolutely nobody and nothing influences what you see except you. The only things you see are posts from people you follow, in chronological order. Emphasis on people, as opposed to AI generated celebrities selling boner pills to kids or whatever the hell is going on these days
graemep 2 days ago
Non-harmful means whatever the government wants it to mean.
theothertimcook 2 days ago
There are ads on Reddit for a secure age verification system that uses your bank account to prove you're over 16.

The current trend with authoritarian moves in Australia, law changes targeted young people, whether to prevent them from committing crime or to protect them from it, then broadened out to the rest of the population.

E.g intoxicated teens stabbing each other has turned into compulsory wanding and searches by police in public.

salawat 2 days ago
Note: they always target the blocs who can't vote first. Easy to cram things through against the unsufferaged.
randyrand 2 days ago
And just like that Australia made kids on social media even “cooler”.
jackvalentine 2 days ago
Putting aside any opinion on success and workability of this regulation, social media/big tech walked right in to this one.
kevin061 2 days ago
I sure hope so
bn-l 2 days ago
Same
add-sub-mul-div 2 days ago
The cure of removing privacy from the internet is worse than the disease.
andsoitis 2 days ago
The kids are gonna be pissed.
GJim 2 days ago
Not without a fake ID. The drinking age is 18 is Aus.