I enjoyed being interviewed for this podcast, which really gave me the space to outline what I think about the social media ban/delay for under16s in Australia, what I think young people and their parents, carers and trusted adults need to think about *before* December 10th (when it kicks in), and what else is just around the corner that might be of more concern.
Australia is banning social media for children 16 and under – but will it actually keep them safe or only spark new problems?
In this episode, hosts David Karsten and Celeste Fourie are joined by Professor Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University and a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, to discuss Australia’s proposed ban on social media for children under 16.
We explore what the Ban aims to achieve, who it will affect, and whether it could reshape the relationship between government and big tech.
The discussion also ventures into what social media will look like when the ban comes into play, and how AI is creating a new internet for the next generation.
- The ban: Purpose, platforms and rollout [01:15]
- Consultation and youth input [04:40]
- How social platforms shape teens’ social lives [06:20]
- Will the ban protect young people? [11:12]
- Generative AI and youth [16:30]
- Industry and global response [22:00]
- Digital literacy and misinformation [16:50]
- The path forward: advice on supporting teens as the ban takes effect [33:10]
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Connect with our guests
Professor Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University
Tama is a regular media commentator, Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and former president of the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR).
