I'm not sure how to start a post, this is my first one
But this is about the Australian Social Media Ban
If you happen to find this as your first mention of the ban, let me pit it down in my understanding.
The social media ban makes it so that countries must take "reasonable measures" to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from having a social media account. As for what exactly that means, all I'm fairly certain is that, if they're going to make Government ID a verification option, the company will also have to provide an alternative, like a bank card or a face scan.
As for what the government calls "social media," it includes:
WhatsApp (Dunno if this is certain or discussed rn)
And more that I haven't put here, I'm sure
I have a few issues with this
First, for things like WhatsApp and Discord, I personally would call them, essentially, a different form of text messages. Discord has better group chats and emojis and stuff, WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption. I'm not an expert but those seem like the only major differences to me.
To my understanding, people will still be able to access it, but they won't be able to have an account. But that's not my issue (other than it seems kind of pointless.) My issue is the government originally said they would not ban YouTube. And they changed their mind. Why? The eSafety Commissioner said so.
"Four out of 10 Australian kids have had their most recent or most harmful experience on YouTube," she said.
Not to be that guy, but maybe that's because of how insanely popular YouTube is. But from what it looks like, the ban is just for show. If you don't have an account, currently, you can still watch YouTube. So it's pointless.
Another thing, I feel like 16 is just. Too high.
You can fly an aeroplane at 15. You can get a learner's permit to driver at 16. The Age of Consent is 16 in most parts of Australia. In New South Wales, you can get a form of gun license at *12*.
And you need to be 16 to use Discord.
To me, that reads as the government saying its safer to fly a plane than to use Twitter. It's just as dangerous to be on Facebook as to drive a car. And there's probably something to be said about other resources and sexual orientation stuff only being available at the age of consent.
And I have yet another point. Social media is a huge way young people can make their voices heard to the government, because it helps inform and talk to other people and spread the word about things.
Under 16s can't vote, so social media is one of the only and best ways they have of getting their voice heard democratically and governmentally.
And they're taking it away
Taking it away in a way that, if any of them bring it up, it's easy to say "you're just salty you can't go on social media" or "you're annoyed you can't scroll TikTok."
The government's justification for taking away a lot of their voice? "It's for the kids."
Because making kids unable to make themselves heard is always a good thing.l, right?
And if you're someone who says "oh well I don't care because it doesn't affect me."
Yes it does. You still need to verify. You still need to use your bank card. You still need to give the company your face scan. You still need to give them your government ID. You are still affected.
Not only could that be devastating if that gets stored then sold, or stolen in a data breach. No one wants to give away their face, no one wants their online activity linked to their ID.
So reblog this, reblog other posts like this, make your own post on here or literally anywhere, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
Tell people, message your friends, message your family about this.
If you're Australian, email your local MP, hell, send a letter to the Prime Minister. Don't be rude or threatening or anything, they'll ignore or arrest you, but show them you care, and that you think this is wrong. Show them it's not just a handful of people.
Start petitions, sign petitions, organise and participate in protests and strikes if you're brave enough.
We should not take this lying down, because this will not be a good thing if it happens the way it's planned. And if we don't do anything about things we disagree with, where will we draw the line? Where will we look at what they're doing and say, "that's a step too far."
Because if impeding and infringing on the participation of AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE in their democracy isn't something that's wrong, I'm not too sure what is.
Do anything and everything you can, spread the word, get this noticed. Don't be violent or hateful, it'll delegitimize us. But show you care, and show it's not just you, whenever and wherever you can.
As a post-message message, on the day I'm posting this, the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albenese is going to be delivering an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It's expected to urge other countries to join in the social media ban, so if you're in another country, spread the message too, because it might be coming to a nation near you very soon.
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