🧔♂️ A friendly human may check it before it goes live. More news here
Australian teen argues social media ban will make internet less safe
A 15-year-old student in Australia is suing the government to overturn a planned ban on social media use for under-16s, arguing it could lead to greater online risks for teens.
Noah Jones, a Sydney high schooler, is a co-plaintiff in a High Court case challenging communications minister Anika Wells and eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
The law, set to take effect on December 10, would prevent minors from accessing platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
The government says the law aims to protect children from harmful content and online predators.
Jones contends the ban would isolate teens, increase secretive online behavior, and widen a “social divide” between those who evade the restrictions and those who do not.
He also believes parents should decide how children use social media rather than the government.
The lawsuit, supported by an advocacy group linked to a Libertarian Party member, claims the ban violates constitutional rights and calls for more targeted online safety measures.
A hearing date has not been set.
🔗 Source: Reuters
🧠 Food for thought
Implications, context, and why it matters.
Enforcement depends on age checks with gaps near 16
- Australia’s law requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to stop under-16 accounts. It sets no method so companies can use facial analysis, government ID, or behavioral inference. Meta verified an adult via selfie, while a 13-year-old failed and was asked for government ID. Meta said accuracy is hardest at 16, consistent with the Age Assurance Technology Trial.
- Facial age tests work better over 21, with errors rising near 16 and for minority groups, so the ban hits the range where checks are weakest. Checks may block over-16 while missing under-16 using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or fake credentials.
- The government admits the rollout “may have imperfections and look a bit untidy”. Communications minister Wells expects “teething issues”. Platforms face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (AUD).
Age checks create a market if privacy rules hold
- All account holders on age-restricted platforms must complete age assurance from December 10, 2025. That boosts demand for Yoti-style vendors, biometric and document tools, plus privacy-preserving tools meeting Part 4A data destruction rules. The Age Assurance Technology Trial found no substantial barriers for this use. Vendors that prove IEEE 2089-2021 compliance and offer “waterfall” methods will stand out.
- Platforms must comply by December 10, 2025, with a review in two years. Early work with the eSafety Commissioner and verifiable deletion logs could secure share before copycat laws, as Australia is first with a total under-16 ban.
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.