Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban Sparks Global Reactions

AFP/APP

Hong Kong: Australia’s landmark move to ban under-16s from social media, coming into effect on Wednesday, is drawing global attention — and mixed reactions. AFP spoke to teenagers and adults across several countries to gauge their views.

Mumbai: ‘Nothing is black or white’

At Mumbai’s seafront, 19-year-old student Pratigya Jena scrolls through Instagram with friends.

Social media “should be partially banned because nothing is either black or white,” she said.

“Gen Z are very active… especially young entrepreneurs,” she noted, but added that children exposed to adult content face “very bad effects”.

Cricket coach Pratik Bhurke, 38, said the ban could push children outdoors and have “great benefits” in India too.

Berlin: ‘Help to detox’

In Berlin, 13-year-old Luna Drewes watches TikTok clips.

“It’s a good thing in some ways because social media often portrays unrealistic standards — like girls needing to be thin,” she said.

Fifteen-year-old Enno Caro Brandes added:

“A ban is a bit extreme, but it could definitely help to do a detox.”

Doha: ‘Really stupid’

Sixteen-year-old Firdha Razak flips through videos of AI-generated babies.

She opposes the ban: “It’s really stupid, honestly… but there’s not much we can do as 16-year-olds.”

With many families in Qatar living abroad, she said it would also make communication “much harder”.

Another Doha teenager, Youssef Walid, 16, said such bans are “harsh” and easily bypassed.

“We can use VPN… we can easily make new accounts.”

Lagos: ‘We were born with it’

At a Lagos high school where phones are banned in classrooms, 15-year-old Mitchelle Okinedo reviewed her exam notes.

“I see where the Australian government is coming from… students are really distracted,” she said.

Even so, “we were born with it… I don’t think it’s something I want to stop.”

Her mother, Hannah Okinedo, 50, supports the ban, saying most parents “don’t have time to monitor their children all day”.

Mexico City: ‘Express yourself’

Eleven-year-old Aranza Gomez, who got a smartphone last year, said losing social media access would make her feel “sad” with “no good way to spend my time”.

Sixteen-year-old Santiago Ramirez Rojas said social media is important for self-expression, regardless of age.

But he warned that “many kidnappings begin online,” with younger children especially vulnerable.

Sydney: ‘Not going to have any impact’

Australian 15-year-old Layton Lewis doubts the ban will work:

“I don’t think the government knows what they’re doing… it’s not going to have any impact.”

His mother, Emily Lewis, disagrees, hoping the law will inspire more authentic relationships.

“They’ll make proper plans to meet face-to-face, instead of relying on illusive online friendships,” she said.