Protecting Kids or Oversimplifying Childhood?

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The Bill treats all individuals under 16 as equally vulnerable, grouping 15-year-olds with 5-year-olds. While the intention is to safeguard children, this approach risks oversimplifying the complexities of adolescence. A teenager on the cusp of adulthood engages with social media differently from a young child, yet both are subject to identical restrictions under this law.

This contrasts starkly with Victoria’s recent debate over the minimum age of criminal responsibility. The Victorian Government failed to pass the Youth Justice Bill in August 2024, which sought to raise the minimum age to 12. As it stands, children as young as 10 can still be detained and face criminal charges. The inconsistency is glaring: while a 10-year-old can be jailed for their actions, a 15-year-old is considered incapable of safely managing a social media account.

Such contradictions highlight the uneven treatment of children across Australian law. Critics argue that these policies reflect a lack of coherent thinking about what it means to protect children and how society can best support their development.

What Do We Lose When Kids Are Excluded?
Social media is often associated with risks, but it also list of canada cell phone numbers provides a platform for young people to innovate, inform, and advocate. The Bill risks stifling the voices of young individuals who have used social media to drive meaningful change and create opportunities:

6 News Australia: Leonardo Puglisi founded this independent news platform at just 11 years old in 2019. His reporting gained national attention in 2022 during the federal election campaign, when he interviewed then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Social media was pivotal in amplifying his work and connecting him with a broad audience.

Greta Thunberg: At just 15, Thunberg began her global climate strikes, leveraging platforms like Twitter and Instagram to mobilise millions worldwide. Her efforts have made her one of the most recognisable activists of our time, sparking debates, protests, and policy changes.
Young people are not just passive consumers of social media; they are active contributors. By restricting access, the Bill risks silencing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers.