Business - Australian social media ban for kids tackles 'addiction economy', ScrollAware says

Australia has taken a significant step in regulating social media for minors, with the government imposing a ban on certain platforms for children under 16. The move aims to tackle what critics call the "addiction economy" of these platforms, where users can be hooked into endless scrolling and endless consumption.

According to Jess Butcher, founder of digital wellbeing foundation ScrollAware, this ban is long overdue given the sheer scale of harm that social media is causing to young people's mental health. Ms Butcher, a tech entrepreneur herself, has been an outspoken critic of over-regulation in the past, but on this issue she finds common ground with policymakers.

"The failure of tech companies to act meaningfully on these issues has left parents and regulators feeling frustrated," she says. "We've seen too many young people struggling with anxiety, depression and loneliness as a result of excessive social media use."

The Australian ban is just one part of a growing trend towards regulation in the tech sector. As concerns about the impact of social media on mental health and wellbeing continue to grow, more governments are taking action.

But Ms Butcher warns that this must be accompanied by education and critical thinking skills, so young people can navigate these platforms safely and responsibly. "We need to equip them with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed choices about their online lives," she says.

The ban itself is a significant step forward in acknowledging the problem of social media addiction and the need for regulation. But it's just the beginning, as we all work together to create healthier online habits and safer spaces for young people.

the more i think about this australia ban , the more i'm like yay, finally someone's stepping in to regulate these social media platforms that are literally ruining our teens' lives ... but at the same time, im so down for some ed and critical thinking skills too, coz just banning it won't cut it, we need to teach them how not to get hooked ... can you imagine if they made edu about online safety a compulsory part of school curricula? that would be lit

this new rule in australia is kinda cool i mean its about time someone did something to control the crazy amount of time kids are spending on social media. i feel like they're not getting enough help from their parents or teachers, so this ban might be just what they need it makes sense that there needs to be more education and critical thinking skills for kids, so they can use these platforms safely and not get too caught up in the endless scrolling

Australia's move to ban certain platforms for minors under 16 is finally doing something about the toxic world of social media . I mean, come on, endless scrolling can't be good for anyone's mental health, right? The addiction economy is real, and it's amazing that Jess Butcher and others are speaking out against it.

I think this ban is a huge step forward, but we need to make sure young people know how to use these platforms safely too . Education and critical thinking skills are key, or they'll just end up scrolling mindlessly and feeling even worse about themselves . We gotta get them equipped with the tools to make informed choices online.

It's about time governments started taking action, but now we need to see some real change in how these platforms are regulated . Let's work together to create healthier online habits and safer spaces for everyone

I gotta say, finally! Someone's taking those kids off their screens before they turn into zombie versions of themselves. I mean, who needs that kind of entertainment when you can have actual human interaction? It's about time someone listened to all the anxiety, depression, and loneliness stuff from parents and regulators... like it was never a huge red flag in the first place . But seriously, this ban is a good start, but let's not think we're outta the woods just yet. How's everyone gonna keep these kids from becoming social media experts when they can barely use a toaster? Education and critical thinking skills are key, so I hope they don't just slap on some generic warnings and call it a day .

man... I'm kinda hyped about this Australian move but at the same time I'm like... how did it even come to this? I mean, social media was supposed to be a thing that brought people together, right? Now we're talking about banning platforms because of addiction . It's wild. But you know what? If it means saving the mental health of some young folks, then I'm down . Jess Butcher is spot on though - regulation alone isn't gonna cut it, we need to educate these kids on how to use social media responsibly too . Maybe we can learn from our own mistakes and create a better online ecosystem

I think its about time we had some serious talk about how our kids are being affected by these platforms . I mean, I've seen my grandkids get so caught up in scrolling through videos and social media that they forget to go outside and play . Its not just them, though - I've got friends whose kids have struggled with anxiety and depression because of excessive screen time .

The idea of a ban on certain platforms for minors is definitely a good starting point , but we can't stop there. We need to make sure that our kids are equipped with the skills they need to navigate these platforms safely and responsibly . Education and critical thinking should be at the forefront of any solution .

Its interesting to see more governments taking action on this issue , but we can't just leave it up to them - we need to take responsibility as parents and caregivers too . We need to model healthy online habits ourselves and have open conversations with our kids about the potential risks and benefits of social media . Only then can we hope to create a healthier online landscape for young people

I'm so down for this move! Australia's getting ahead on regulating these platforms, it's about time we take a closer look at how social media's affecting our youth. I mean, the numbers are just crazy - anxiety, depression, loneliness... it's all linked to excessive screen time, and we need to do something about it. But, let's not forget, this is just a starting point. We gotta educate these kids on how to use social media responsibly, teach them critical thinking skills so they can navigate the online world without getting sucked in by all that 'addiction economy' nonsense . It's not just about taking away platforms, it's about giving young people the tools they need to make informed choices and have a healthy relationship with tech. Fingers crossed this is just the beginning of some real change!

I think this move by Australia is a much-needed paradigm shift in how we approach social media regulation . The sheer scale of harm that these platforms are causing to young minds can't be ignored any longer. It's time for policymakers, parents, and tech companies to work together to create a safer online environment.

This ban is just the starting point, but it's essential that we complement it with education and critical thinking skills . We need to equip young people with the tools they need to navigate these platforms responsibly and make informed choices about their online lives. It's not enough for tech companies to simply impose restrictions; we need to empower the next generation to think critically about their social media use.

This is a wake-up call for all of us, and I'm glad that Australia is taking the lead in this effort . We can't wait until more governments follow suit and take meaningful action to regulate the tech sector. It's time for a collective response to create healthier online habits and safer spaces for young people

OMG I'm low-key impressed by Australia taking action on this! It's about time we do something about those platforms draining our teens' mental health I mean, who doesn't remember when Myspace was the big thing? Now that Facebook is all grown up (not really), it's about time they step up their game. The "addiction economy" is real, and this ban is like a breath of fresh air

But y'know, Jess Butcher makes some good points too... we do need to educate the young folks on how to use these platforms responsibly I mean, my kid's always asking me why TikTok has so many ads They should be learning how to navigate that stuff without getting addicted

I'm totally on board with this move! As someone who's always been active on socials, I've seen firsthand how addictive those platforms can be . It's crazy that the gov is finally taking action to protect our kiddos from the negative effects of excessive scrolling . Jess Butcher is right, it's time for tech companies to step up and take responsibility for their role in shaping online habits .

It's all about balance, you know? Social media can be a great tool for staying connected and sharing ideas, but not when it's controlling our lives . I'm glad the gov is prioritizing mental health and wellbeing – we need to teach kids (and ourselves!) how to use those platforms in a way that's healthy and positive .

This ban is just the start of something bigger, though! We need to keep pushing for more education and critical thinking skills so our young folks can navigate social media like pros . It's time to take control of our online lives and create safer, healthier spaces for everyone

I'm loving this move by Australia ! We've gotta take care of our kiddos, you know? Social media can be a total vortex, making them feel like they're stuck in an endless loop of FOMO . It's time we start holding tech companies accountable for the impact their platforms are having on our young people's mental health .

I mean, Jess Butcher is totally right - the failure to regulate social media has left parents and regulators feeling pretty frustrated . We've gotta do better than just banning certain platforms; we need to make sure kids have the skills to navigate online life safely and responsibly .

It's like, education is key ! We need to teach our kiddos critical thinking skills and digital literacy so they can make informed choices about their online lives. This ban is a great start, but it's just the beginning . Let's keep working together to create healthier online habits and safer spaces for our kids!

this makes sense tbh, I've been seeing my younger cousins spend hours on tiktok and snapchat, it's crazy! they're literally glued to their screens 24/7, it's like they're missing out on the real world, you know? but at the same time, I get why the gov is stepping in, these platforms are making bank off our kids' eyeballs and it's just not right. we need to start thinking about our digital wellbeing and how it affects our mental health, especially for young people. it's all about finding that balance and being responsible online, you feel?

come on aussies finally taking this step! its been like 10 years since social media was introduced to our lives and now they're banning platforms for minors under 16 thats a huge win in my book! im not surprised though, all the studies are saying the same thing - excessive screen time is killing our mental health anxiety depression loneliness... its just heartbreaking.

i mean, tech companies have been known to be so lazy when it comes to taking responsibility for their platforms. they just keep pushing out new features and updates without thinking about the impact on our young people's wellbeing its like they think social media is some sort of magic pill that will solve all our problems .

anyway, i'm all for this ban! but we need to take it a step further... we need to teach these kids how to use social media responsibly in the first place. education is key here not just banning certain platforms, but also educating them on critical thinking and online safety skills. its not that hard, ppl!

I mean, finally someone's doing something about the never-ending scroll ... Australia's getting ahead of the game by banning certain platforms for minors under 16. It's about time those platforms realized their users are literally hooked on endless consumption .

I'm all for regulation, but we can't just stop at banning some platforms. We need to teach kids how to use them responsibly and not be sucked into that vortex of anxiety and depression . It's like, I get it, tech companies haven't been doing enough, but now they have to step up their game.

Let's hope this is the start of a bigger conversation about online wellbeing and education... we can't just rely on banning platforms, that's just a quick fix . We need to equip kids with critical thinking skills so they can navigate social media safely, without being a slave to those algorithmic ads .

This is a good start, but let's keep pushing for more .

I think this new rule in Australia is kinda about time they can't just keep letting kids be stuck on social media all day, it's literally causing them some serious harm . I mean, my friends' kids are always glued to their screens and it's getting really worrying . We need more regulation like this in other countries too ️, so we can make sure our young people aren't growing up with anxiety and depression because of social media . But yeah, education is key , we gotta teach them how to use these platforms safely and stuff .

I'm so glad they're finally taking action on this ! As a parent myself, I can attest that excessive screen time is becoming a major concern with my own kids. They can get sucked into these platforms for hours on end, and it's like watching them disappear into thin air . The 'addiction economy' is real, folks!

But here's the thing: just banning certain platforms won't solve the problem . We need to educate kids on how to use social media responsibly and critically think about what they're consuming online. It's not all bad news – there are some amazing initiatives out there teaching digital literacy skills to young people.

I reckon this is a great step forward, but we shouldn't rest on our laurels ! We need to keep pushing for more education and resources to help kids navigate the online world safely. I'm all about finding that balance between free expression and protecting our youth's mental health

I think this ban is totally necessary , like, no one needs endless scrolling and comparing their life to others on social media... but at the same time, I'm worried that it's gonna be super restrictive and stifle free speech , what if we're trying to have a conversation online? Shouldn't kids have a say in how they use these platforms too?

OMG, finally! Like, I've been saying this for ages, but I guess someone needs to tell the tech companies to pipe down already . A ban on social media for kids under 16? It's about bloody time! I mean, can you imagine being a teenager and having your entire life curated by algorithms that care more about your engagement than your actual well-being? Creepy much?

But seriously, it's awesome that Australia is taking steps to regulate this madness. I've seen my friends' kids get sucked into these platforms like they're zombies, and it's heartbreaking to see them struggling with anxiety and depression because of it . This ban might just be the wake-up call tech companies need to get their act together.

The key, though, is education and critical thinking skills. We can't just slap a band-aid on this problem and expect it to fix itself. We need to teach young people how to navigate these platforms safely and responsibly – like, literally teach them how not to scroll mindlessly for hours on end . Fingers crossed this ban sets the tone for real change!

I'm not sure if this ban is a good thing... I mean, Australia needs to protect its kids from these platforms that can be super addictive, but at the same time, it's kinda scary to think about the government controlling what we use online... like, what about free speech? But on the other hand, if social media is really hurting young people's mental health then maybe some regulation isn't such a bad thing... I just wish they wouldn't do it so suddenly, what if some platforms adapt too quickly and make more rules that are annoying or even worse?