Australia's Federal Youth Wing of the National Party has come out against its own government's plans to implement a social media ban for under-16s, warning that it could cut regional youngsters off from their families and exacerbate mental health issues.
The Young Nationals have urged the government to scrap the law entirely, arguing that it would have far-reaching consequences on rural Australians who heavily rely on social media to stay connected with loved ones. According to Charlie Plant, the party's president, the ban is likely to push vulnerable youngsters into unregulated online spaces where they are more susceptible to cyberbullying and mental health problems.
The party is instead calling for a classification system similar to that used for movies and TV shows, which would allow parents to set boundaries and rules for their children. This would enable them to monitor their child's social media activity in a safer and more controlled environment. Furthermore, the Young Nationals are advocating for mandatory parental controls on electronic devices.
Coalition politicians have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the law, particularly with regards to age verification technology, which has been plagued by errors during government trials. The Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the legislation, stating that it was supported by parents who want to protect their children from online harm and cyberbullying.
However, some Coalition members are questioning the approach, citing concerns about the law's ability to reduce online harm effectively and its impact on small businesses and social media companies. Liberal MP Andrew Bragg has expressed concern about the designated social media companies being regulated through legislation rather than parliament.
The Young Nationals have urged the government to scrap the law entirely, arguing that it would have far-reaching consequences on rural Australians who heavily rely on social media to stay connected with loved ones. According to Charlie Plant, the party's president, the ban is likely to push vulnerable youngsters into unregulated online spaces where they are more susceptible to cyberbullying and mental health problems.
The party is instead calling for a classification system similar to that used for movies and TV shows, which would allow parents to set boundaries and rules for their children. This would enable them to monitor their child's social media activity in a safer and more controlled environment. Furthermore, the Young Nationals are advocating for mandatory parental controls on electronic devices.
Coalition politicians have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the law, particularly with regards to age verification technology, which has been plagued by errors during government trials. The Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the legislation, stating that it was supported by parents who want to protect their children from online harm and cyberbullying.
However, some Coalition members are questioning the approach, citing concerns about the law's ability to reduce online harm effectively and its impact on small businesses and social media companies. Liberal MP Andrew Bragg has expressed concern about the designated social media companies being regulated through legislation rather than parliament.
... So like, they're saying the government wants to ban under-16s from social media? But isn't that kinda harsh? Like, what if their parents want them to use it for school or something? 
And what's with the classification system thingy? How would that even work? Like, my mom uses Netflix to control who she lets watch what, but this is way more complicated than that... 
Is Australia always so divided on things like this? 
. Like, who wants to cut off rural kids from their families just because of social media? 
That would be super unfair. And cyberbullying is no joke, I totally get why they're saying that unregulated online spaces are bad news 
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. It'd give parents more control over what their kids are seeing and doing online. And mandatory parental controls on devices? That's a no-brainer 
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, and I was thinking about how our technology is getting so advanced that it's crazy! Like, have you seen those new drones? 
They can fly higher and farther than ever before! It made me wonder if we'll be able to use virtual reality in such a way that people forget what real life even looks like 
. But anyway, back to social media... I mean, I get why the government is trying to regulate it for under-16s, but I'm not sure I agree with the ban idea 
! I totally get why the Young Nationals are against the ban, especially for rural Aussies who rely on social media to stay connected with their loved ones 
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. And mandatory parental controls on electronic devices? That's a no-brainer! 
. Age verification technology is already flawed, so it's only going to get worse if they don't address those issues 
. And I think regulating social media companies through legislation rather than parliament could stifle innovation and creativity 
. Seriously though, cyberbullying is no joke. We need better solutions than just a classification system. Maybe we should focus on teaching kids online etiquette instead?
. Think of it like this:
. It would allow parents to set boundaries and monitor their child's activity in a safer way. Maybe we can find a middle ground that balances safety with freedom 
</font> One thing for sure, the government needs to listen to both sides of the argument 
. This isn't just about social media ban or not, it's about protecting our kids and making sure we're doing what's best for them 
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. And mandatory parental controls on electronic devices? That sounds like a no-brainer to me 
... maybe just a classification system like for movies and TV shows would be the way to go 
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