Australian Social Media Ban for Under 16s

[Pinky]

In a historic world first, Australia has banned social media sites for persons under 16 years old nationwide (federal level). It passed Senate yesterday, 34 votes in the affirmative and 16 votes in the negative.

Now, speak to a 13 year-old Pinky about this, and she’d have given you an earful of rants about kid’s rights and adults favouring adults and punishing kids and rah rah fuckin’ rah.

16½ year-old Pinky has, understandably, a different take on things now. I support this, and I think unless you’re a creepy sort of person, you’d agree with me, that under 16s are a much bigger target to groomers than people over.

This is expected to come into effect from November 2025, and only targets major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and Reddit all must now prepare to implement the laws in Australia from this time next year.

Platforms like Messenger Kids, YouTube kids, WhatsApp and smaller social media platforms (like this shithole) are considered out-of-scope for the laws.

Poll Notes: you can only vote yes or no (obviously), you can’t change your vote, the poll is anonymous, and you can’t see results until you vote. Poll runs 2 weeks

 

[Pinky]

Addendum: just to reiterate that this is completely anonymous. Even I can’t see the votes.

I dunno about UMs, as they’re entirely independent creatures (and kinda salty, tbh).

Feel free to vote creepily if you must. Nobody can judge (I don’t think). Probably Lord & Hamster @CatHamster can, but that’s it. 🐱 🐹

 

[Seraphim]

Yep, it's good!

 

[Seraphim]

@MandyW @TheCitizenzz @NavyWings what do you all think about this new law?

 

[TheCitizenzz]

@Seraphim , theoretically it is awesome , let’s see how it’s applied.

 

[Seraphim]

@Seraphim , theoretically it is awesome , let’s see how it’s applied.

Yes. I support this, and I too think unless you’re a creepy sort of person, you’d agree with me, that under 16s are a much bigger target to groomers than people over.

 

[MandyW]

@MandyW @TheCitizenzz @NavyWings what do you all think about this new law?

I applaud laws like that as long as the intention is noble. Protecting the vulnerable ones.

 

[Pinky]

The law, whilst passed, does not come into effect until the end of 2025 (November 30). Yes, I do support this law after my experience here over the past 3 years.

As also stated, small sites like this won’t be affected, unless the law is altered to include all sites, regardless of size. I’m pretty confident Chatmaster has thoroughly looked into this and any implications it may have on CA.

@Ness_eb @TheLeigh @Apollo I don’t want my old thread to turn into another excuse to roast minors like the previous one. Please close, thank you.

 

[Seraphim]

I applaud laws like that as long as the intention is noble. Protecting the vulnerable ones.

100% 😌

 

[Pinky]

To explain my stance on this to people who completely misunderstand my view, my view is on my personal experience with former admins here and the larger picture of it targeting large social media platforms.

And I don’t give a rats fat arse if you don’t like me for my views on this after countless times of being let down on here. Fuck you all if you think that.