I have mixed feelings about the age restrictions on social media, which become law in Australia as from today. 80% of 8-16 year olds in Australia use social media, usually starting at ages 10-12.
Proponents of the new laws highlight protection from cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predators. The law promotes healthy brain development by curbing excessive screen time that disrupts sleep and damages academic progress. It also addresses privacy risks from data collection on young users.
Proponents also point out, correctly, that age restrictions in the UK have had a massive impact on traffic to porn sites, suggesting that as many as 50% of access to those sites was from people under the age of 18.
On the other hand, restrictions can be circumvented; they make access more difficult, not impossible. And there is much that is supportive, positive and creative on social media. Many people rely almost entirely on social media to know what is happening in their local communities. Young people should not be excluded from this.
Whatever you think about social media and age restrictions, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner seems giddy with power, while positive outcomes are decidedly absent. Political motivation in campaigns and in deciding which cases to pursue, a lack of any outcomes in relation to actual online safety, and imperious global takedown orders, have made the Commission a subject of near-universal scorn. Below is a letter to the eSafety Commissioner from a US law firm. Enjoy 
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