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.
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'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 
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 
The addiction economy is real, and it's amazing that Jess Butcher and others are speaking out against it.
. 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.
. 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 
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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 
. Its not just them, though - I've got friends whose kids have struggled with anxiety and depression because of excessive screen time 
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, 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 
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! 
. Jess Butcher is right, it's time for tech companies to step up and take responsibility for their role in shaping online habits 
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. It's time we start holding tech companies accountable for the impact their platforms are having on our young people's mental health 
. 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 
. Let's keep working together to create healthier online habits and safer spaces for our kids! 
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? 
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. I mean, my friends' kids are always glued to their screens and it's getting really worrying 
️, so we can make sure our young people aren't growing up with anxiety and depression because of social media 
. The 'addiction economy' is real, folks!
! 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