Social media ban sparks worldwide discussion

From this perspective, the Australian government's move is not paternalistic overreach but a logical — if blunt — public health intervention. The government sees its ban as a wise and necessary measure.

"Social media is doing social harm to our kids. We've called time on it," Albanese said during a press conference in November 2024. "We want our kids to have a childhood."

A vanguard of digital governance, Australia's ban marks a dramatic escalation in its long-standing policy trajectory shaped by the eSafety Commissioner's technology regulation standards.

Some argue that the ban will be impossible to enforce effectively. Tech-savvy teenagers using VPNs can easily bypass digital gates, while overzealous filters may block too much, stifling free speech, learning, and social connections, especially among marginalized youth or immigrants seeking real community and belonging.

If the ban improves young people's mental health without creating a digital black market or crippling online conversations, it will be hailed as a visionary act of political courage. If it fails to be enforced or isolates vulnerable groups, it will become a cautionary tale about the limits of state power in a borderless digital world.