A leading Australian cyber safety expert has delivered a damning verdict on the federal government's new social media age restrictions, declaring the policy has largely failed just one month after its introduction.
Ban Fails to Block Access
Susan McLean, a respected cyber security specialist who works extensively with young people, told the Sunrise program that the ban targeting under-16s has achieved very little. McLean stated she is only aware of two young people who have actually had their social media accounts removed as a direct result of the new rules.
The restrictions, which came into effect a month ago, cover nine major platforms including Instagram and Snapchat. The policy was designed to shield children from online dangers, but McLean revealed a stark reality: most teenagers have either not been flagged by the systems or have successfully navigated the age verification processes.
How Teens and Parents Are Bypassing the Rules
McLean outlined several ways the ban is being circumvented. She explained that many accounts simply haven't been identified by the platforms' detection systems. In other cases, parents are actively helping their children get around the restrictions.
She expressed understanding for some parents, particularly those with children who have a disability or chronic illness and rely on social networks for crucial support and community. However, she also pointed to a significant group of tech-savvy kids who have managed to bypass the controls entirely on their own.
McLean noted that this behaviour isn't new. Many parents of primary school children have been helping them lie about their age to create accounts for years, long before the official ban began.
A Call for a More Nuanced Approach
While acknowledging that the ban has sparked important conversations about social media's potential harms, McLean argued that prohibition is not a complete solution. "You cannot ban your way to safety," she emphasised.
She highlighted the dual nature of social media, noting that alongside risks, the platforms offer significant benefits for connection and learning. A simple ban, she argued, fails to address this complexity.
McLean criticised the long-standing but poorly enforced minimum age requirement of 13 that many platforms have had since their inception. Instead of relying solely on bans, she advocates for a multifaceted strategy focused on education and empowering parents with the knowledge and tools to guide their children's online experiences safely.
