Australia's Youth Sidestep Social Media Curbs On First Day

(MENAFN- The Arabian Post)

Australia's attempt to block under-16s from accessing major social media platforms was immediately challenged as teenagers bypassed the new restrictions within hours, surfacing concerns over the policy's design, its rapid rollout, and the possibility that younger users could drift towards platforms with fewer safeguards. The ban, introduced as part of a national response to mounting concerns over online harm, requires platforms including Meta's Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube to verify that users are over 16 before granting access.

Authorities confirmed that enforcement started with mandatory age checks driven by government-approved verification technologies, but the measure quickly encountered its first hurdle as adolescents turned to VPNs, borrowed credentials and fabricated birth dates to stay online. The issue escalated after reports of school-aged users circulating guides on how to circumvent the restrictions, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to defend the initiative and call for public patience as the system beds in. His remarks followed a wave of criticism from parents, educators and digital rights advocates who warned that the ban could inadvertently push younger users towards platforms with weaker monitoring tools such as Discord or encrypted messaging apps.

Officials stressed that the policy remains central to efforts aimed at shielding children from cyberbullying, grooming, addictive design features and harmful content. The government had earlier cited rising complaints related to online harassment and the spread of explicit material involving minors as justification for accelerating the rollout. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, confirmed that platforms had been instructed to implement robust age-assurance methods and would face penalties if they failed to demonstrate compliance. She noted that smaller platforms had also been notified of their obligations to prevent under-age accounts from slipping through the system.

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Technology firms responded with varying levels of preparedness. Meta and TikTok said they had expanded their identity-verification tools and were collaborating with regulators to refine the system, although internal testing highlighted gaps that could be exploited through easily obtained anonymising software. Industry executives also raised concerns over the pace of implementation, arguing that more time was needed to trial verification technologies that strike a balance between effectiveness and privacy. Digital rights groups echoed those concerns, warning that intrusive identity checks risked normalising large-scale collection of sensitive personal data in ways that could set precedents beyond the intended scope.

Parents expressed frustration over the confusion created by the abrupt transition, with some reporting that legitimate accounts belonging to older teenagers were incorrectly flagged or temporarily locked. Youth counsellors added that the ban had prompted anxiety among students who rely on social platforms for communication, peer support and creative expression. Advocates for children's wellbeing argued that while the risks associated with social media are substantial, abrupt prohibition may undermine efforts to promote digital literacy and responsible online behaviour. They suggested that a more integrated approach combining education, parental engagement and platform accountability could reduce harm more effectively.

The debate broadened as cybersecurity experts pointed out that the policy fails to address the ease with which tech-savvy users can bypass geo-restricted systems. VPN usage surged among teenagers attempting to mask their location, and tutorials on changing device settings to mimic older users circulated widely. Researchers warned that such workarounds could expose young people to elevated data-privacy risks by directing them to unregulated VPN providers or third-party applications that harvest personal information. Consumer protection specialists highlighted that these risks could intensify if children migrate towards fringe platforms where moderation standards are inconsistent or opaque.

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Government officials insisted they anticipated an initial period of adjustment but remained confident that the policy would discourage under-age access over time. They argued that continuous updates to verification systems, alongside penalties for non-compliant platforms, would strengthen the framework. The Home Affairs department confirmed that talks were underway with major technology companies to incorporate advanced biometric-free age-assurance tools that minimise privacy intrusions while raising accuracy.

Opposition politicians seized on the chaotic rollout, calling for clearer guidelines and an independent review of the system's impact on families, small businesses and content creators. Several MPs noted that youth-oriented organisations were not adequately consulted, leaving key questions unanswered about enforcement, appeals processes and support mechanisms for vulnerable teenagers. Some lawmakers suggested that the government should focus on compelling platforms to redesign algorithms that prioritise harmful content rather than imposing age-based blanket restrictions.

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