Social media and teenagers

Australia has banned under-16s from social media in what is the world's first such crackdown, with the Government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying that unprecedented measures are needed to protect children from "predatory algorithms" filling phone screens with bullying, sex and violence. Scores of popular apps and websites face $33 million fines if they fail to purge Australia-based under 16 users.

The ban is born of a legitimate concern. Despite years of trying to get social media companies to monitor the content on their platforms, the companies have hidden behind various excuses, including questionable interpretations of free speech laws and definitions of their roles and responsibilities, to avoid lifting a finger.

At the same time, due to the very nature of the internet, any effort to block or restrict problematic content is doomed to fail, as more will keep popping up elsewhere. This is why social media platforms, in particular, have become conduits for cyberbullying, predatory behaviour and content that undermines the mental health of the young. However, good intentions do not always make good law. Blanket bans are both dangerous and ineffective.

Taking a simple example, alcohol and cannabis, and other intoxicants are available in every country of the world, including countries where they are illegal, and mere possession of the substances could land a person in jail for several years.

In the context of social media, a ban mistakes the medium for the message and punishes the user for the publisher's crimes. By this logic, we would ban all paper because it can publish hate speech, or shutter all cinemas because some movies contain harmful ideas. Such an approach conflates the vast potential of a tool with the worst abuses it enables.

Social media is not inherently evil. In fact, it can be a catalyst for creativity and community. A ban risks fostering isolation, hindering digital literacy and widening the digital divide between those who can and cannot afford to circumvent it.

A more effective solution is through increased accountability and education. We must relentlessly pursue and punish those who create and publish illegal and predatory content, while making platforms liable for the content they host, forcing them to take on liability for offensive content if it is directly making them money. We must also invest heavily in digital literacy programmes that teach critical thinking and ethical online behaviour from primary school.