tech
Social media bans go global: big tech faces a reckoning after Australia’s crackdown
As a host of countries move to rein in social media use by children, could this be technology’s big tobacco moment?
TL;DR
- Australia's ban on social media for children under 16 has inspired similar actions in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK.
- Lawsuits and mounting evidence point to the harms and addictive qualities of social media, leading to comparisons with the 'big tobacco' era.
- Governments are exploring various approaches, including age restrictions, smartphone bans in schools, and accountability for platform executives.
- The effectiveness of bans is debated, with some arguing they are easily circumvented and push children to riskier platforms.
- Concerns about AI regulation are also rising, with some lawmakers aiming to avoid repeating past mistakes with social media.
- Motivations for regulation vary across countries, ranging from addiction and mental health to preventing recruitment by criminal organizations and controlling access to certain content.