This explains why the tech sector stands united in opposition to the Australian regulation. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, criticized the ban as overly hasty, accusing the government in Canberra of ignoring the preferences of those directly affected. Meta also stressed that tech companies already implement measures to protect teenagers. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, owner of the platform formerly known as Twitter, accused the Australian government of attempting to censor the internet.
Amnesty International joined the chorus of critics, pointing out that enforcing the new law would require all Australian social media users to verify their age through biometric data or document uploads — essentially turning internet access into a passport-controlled activity. Such a step creates significant security risks. Additionally, human rights advocates argue that social networks provide young people with opportunities for communication, learning, and self-expression — a blanket ban would strip them of these benefits.
Finally, 140 Australian scientists and international experts published an open letter urging the government to reconsider its decision. They argued that the initiative would remove platforms’ incentives to care about children’s well-being, that the ban’s effective implementation (particularly precise age verification) is unlikely to succeed, and that platforms falling outside the reach of the law — YouTube, various messaging apps, gaming services — would be largely free to disregard the wellbeing of young users.
What the research says
The safety of children and teenagers on social media is of concern not only to the Australian government, but also to researchers worldwide. One of the most extensive studies conducted on this topic was carried out by scientists from Cambridge and Oxford, who sought to determine whether social media activity in adolescence influences a person’s future happiness — and, in the other direction, whether a person’s level of happiness affects how much time they spend on social media. The analysis attempted to take into account environmental factors like family income and neighborhood prosperity in order to eliminate the potential influence of socioeconomic variables.
Data from tens of thousands of participants revealed that while the connection is generally weak, social media and “life satisfaction” are indeed linked at certain stages of life. Although the Australian government cited this study to support its impending ban, the UK-based authors accused officials of misinterpreting their findings. They emphasized that people respond differently to social media, suggesting an approach that employs targeted measures rather than a blanket ban. “It’s a pity they didn’t consult us before referencing our work,” one of the researchers remarked.
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