A global debate is intensifying after Austalia announced new restrictions banning children under the age of 16 from using major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. The decision, introduced amid rising concerns about online safety and youth mental health, has triggered strong reactions from educators, tech companies, parents, and policy experts during a CBS19 segment.
School administrators in various countries say the move is long overdue, arguing that excessive use of social platforms disrupts learning and exposes students to harmful content. Many schools already prohibit phone use during class hours, while Australia has taken the boldest step so far by banning mobile phones entirely during school time in public schools though there are exceptions — a measure that has reignited international discussion.
Tech companies, however, maintain that the ban does not necessarily make children safer. Despite disagreeing with the policy, companies have agreed to comply and are preparing to implement stricter age-verification technology to enforce the new rules.
Critics of the ban warn that it could undermine free expression and limit young people’s ability to participate in modern public life.
“You’re taking away how we communicate with the world. This is modern life — it is social media,” one critic argued.
In the United States, the issue has captured public attention after a small discussion segment aired on CBS, where experts emphasized the importance of parental involvement. They say the new restrictions could help parents initiate crucial conversations with their children about navigating digital spaces responsibly.
“It’s about helping teenagers find self-regulation, balance, and using social media appropriately,” an expert said, describing the policy as a potential “conversation starter.”
While specialists acknowledge the dangers of excessive social media use, they stress that online platforms also offer connection and community for many young people. Parents echo this duality:
“We know excessive use of social media can be very bad for your mental health, especially for teens at risk of anxiety and depression,” one parent noted.
During this segment, critics of social media companies argued that the ban should be a wake-up call to the tech industry. They pointed out that the lack of strong regulation in the United States has pushed other nations to take action. As CBS19 highlighted:
“The inability in our country to regulate and do something about it has led other countries to say, ‘These are mostly American companies — that’s enough of this.’”
As governments, families, and tech companies react to the unfolding situation, the debate underscores a growing global urgency: how to protect young people online without severing them from the digital spaces that shape modern communication.
