To be not that happy with the Aus under 16 rules

marsala1 · 2025-10-08T08:46:04+00:00

As above, come December anyone under 16 in Australia will not be allowed on almost all platforms.Personally , I think 16yo is way too old . Do others agree? My 13yo has a youtube channel that he has had for years and he just posts easy ways to get through hard sections of Roblox games. If he posts he gets about 200000 views. He also has friends all over the world from playing online games . I know people will say that could be a 50yo man,but thats a lot of effort to keep up an American accent for 3 years. I can see some advantages but I'm not sure it's the best option. We have moved regionally and he has been able to keep in touch with friends via online games as well. His laptop is in the dining room and goes to school with him every day , so is a neccesity. Opinions?

Original poster

marsala1 · 10/10/2025 02:27

I completely agree that stopping bullying on SM should be much more at the top of mind of companies like Meta. They could do it, they just can't be bothered. It's a disgrace. My son was bullied the second day of high school on the bus, thankfully one of his friends was smart enough to film it on their phone. The bully was suspended. Tech can be useful.
( Annoyingly, I just did a timed typing challenge with him, he got 140 wpm 99% accuracy , I got 55 wpm 95% accuracy. ) The benefits of having grown up knowing your way around phones, and laptops.
Also the person who originally suggested we get an ipad for him was a speech pathologist, There was an app ( Talking Tom?) . He was 2 and a half and not speaking.
I understand everyone has had different experiences with tech and I'm sorry for those who have had a terrible time, but my son had a terrible time on the bus ( and it's a 50 minute trip) so I guess I'm just leaning towards tech is the future, may as well embrace it. Oh and I checked his old youtube account ( him reading a book, just his voice and the book shown) and he was actually 6yo. Not sure that will make it any better in others eyes!

OP posts:

DrJump · 09/10/2025 07:28

My eldest was bullied the first year of highs school. I am so relieved that he didn't have social media. It meant home was home and no bullies. As the school has a mobile.phone ban we chose not to get him a mobile phone but have a house mobile he can text on but it lives in the lounge room.

socks1107 · 09/10/2025 07:21

Wish it were a thing in the UK. It may have saved my sd from being horrifically groomed

FeralWoman · 09/10/2025 07:00

toastofthetown · 09/10/2025 06:44

I’d love to know how they plan to police it. I imagine it will as successful as the OSA here where anyone who wants to get around the rules will get a VPN or find a work around and while their parents are relaxed the law has taken care of the situation.

Porn restrictions are being introduced early next year in Australia. You’ll have to log in and prove your age via a credit card or something. VPN usage is going to skyrocket.

zazazaaar · 09/10/2025 06:50

I'm afraid you seem really naive. To think your child is somehow not going to get manipulated because you live rurally. They don't have to physically touch you to destroy your life. We just had a situation in the UK. Last week, where hundreds of teenagers have been blackmailed (and some awfully committed suicide) because they when it manipulated into sending photos of themselves to their "girlfriends".

At 5 they should be doing other things other than thinking about social media.

toastofthetown · 09/10/2025 06:44

I’d love to know how they plan to police it. I imagine it will as successful as the OSA here where anyone who wants to get around the rules will get a VPN or find a work around and while their parents are relaxed the law has taken care of the situation.

SouthernNights59 · 09/10/2025 06:36

marsala1 · 08/10/2025 10:32

OK list one, remembering we live regionally and he can't go to anyone's house unless dropped off there.

How do you think people living regionally managed pre internet days?

mrssunshinexxx · 09/10/2025 06:05

Totally agree with this and only wish uk introduced similar rules.

FeralWoman · 09/10/2025 06:04

@marsala1 You must have been an independent and capable child for them to trust you at home alone.

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 06:00

I'm not sure if it was legal or not, but most of us that went home on the bus went back to empty houses ( except the rich people who had mum at home) maybe that's why I chose to be a SAHM. My parents were mostly great though, so not sure if it made any difference. It's a hard decision. No there was no such thing as after school care when I went to school.

OP posts:

FeralWoman · 09/10/2025 05:55

@marsala1 Being left alone every school afternoon at 9yo isn’t usual. I’m guessing that it was by necessity and that there was no after school care available? Depending on what state you’re in it might not even be legal to leave a child alone for that long that often.

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 05:54

I forgot to add that on Thursday nights ( which was late night trading then) , I'd get the train from my primary school to the inner city , walk to their shop and then mum would give me $10 to buy a book and then I'd sit and read it at my parents cafe. Nobody would do that now. I'd finish my book by the time it was time to head home at 10pm.

OP posts:

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 05:47

indoorplantqueen · 08/10/2025 11:14

I think overall teens need to spend a lot less time on social media. I was talking to my dd14 yesterday and she asked what I did when I came home from school (I lived quite rural) and I said after my homework was done I’d sometimes get into bed and read a book. I was an avid reader and would sometimes go through a book a day. She looked at me like I had two heads. I didn’t get a phone until I was 16.

I did the same ( except for getting into bed) after spending hours on the phone to my friends. I'd watch TV ( there was obvs no netflix or I would have been watching that) and I would start dinner or bring the washing in. Turn off the TV as I heard my parents arrive in the drive. ( dad used to feel the back of the tv to see if it was warm sometimes which caught me out) Zero supervision from when I was about (9yo?) from when I walked to school until I got the bus home and was on my own then for at least a couple of hours. Surely thats not that unusual? I could have been speaking to who knows on the phone ( and prank calls were a favourite of ours ) I can't see the difference!

OP posts:

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 04:49

RawBloomers · 09/10/2025 04:23

I’m with you OP. My children have been online (though not unsupervised) since they were about 5. Started with Club Penguin, then Minecraft but they kept in touch with friends and family from the age of 7 (when we moved) through a number of platforms. One DD had a youtube channel that she made a fair amount of money on as an 8 year old doing reviews of TV shows. We did monitor them when they were younger, talk about what they were doing online and show them how to deal with things but that’s tailed off over the years (just as our supervision of their interactions in the physical world has).

It’s been a rich source of social life, ideas, and connection. It was a life line in Covid when they weren’t in school. They’re now over 16 and it’s still going well. Doesn’t cause them anxiety or seem to affect their self esteem negatively. They’re don’t chase likes. They are sceptical about strangers on line and savvy and street smart about spam and scams. They’ve had no virtually bullying issues. None of the negative things I hear about social media have been a part of our lives.

They have had the odd spat. Arguing over who’s right in a game or the like. But we’ve had far fewer and less serious issues from their online life than we have with real life friendships.

Oh! I remember Club Penguin. That did have a flaw, that you could spend money if you had your parents CC. But that's the same with ebay etc . Don't let your kids have your CC! ( Lesson learnt by me 20 something years ago - he is now an adviser to the state govt - so they are not irredeemable!)

OP posts:

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 04:43

I have no idea, that's why I think it's so stupid. What a waste of govt money that could be spent on a/c for school rooms or the potholes on every road around here, hospitals . Amongst many other things.

OP posts:

FeralWoman · 09/10/2025 04:40

I think that they’re largely leaving it up to each platform to work it out. Insta or YouTube will use an algorithm based on what you watch to decide what your age is. Too bad for my DH. He and DD share a YouTube account. However he’s already verified as an adult for sensitive or restricted videos so that should be okay. I think that the government will fine or punish platforms if they become aware of underage problems.

Silverbirchleaf · 09/10/2025 04:32

I’m curious, how will they stop this? Whats to stop you’re saying you’re over 16? (Not in Aus). Ehi’s going to police it? And how? Are police go ping to be allowed to arrest a 15 year with an iPad in a restaurant, for example? Or their parents? (Off to google).

RawBloomers · 09/10/2025 04:23

I’m with you OP. My children have been online (though not unsupervised) since they were about 5. Started with Club Penguin, then Minecraft but they kept in touch with friends and family from the age of 7 (when we moved) through a number of platforms. One DD had a youtube channel that she made a fair amount of money on as an 8 year old doing reviews of TV shows. We did monitor them when they were younger, talk about what they were doing online and show them how to deal with things but that’s tailed off over the years (just as our supervision of their interactions in the physical world has).

It’s been a rich source of social life, ideas, and connection. It was a life line in Covid when they weren’t in school. They’re now over 16 and it’s still going well. Doesn’t cause them anxiety or seem to affect their self esteem negatively. They’re don’t chase likes. They are sceptical about strangers on line and savvy and street smart about spam and scams. They’ve had no virtually bullying issues. None of the negative things I hear about social media have been a part of our lives.

They have had the odd spat. Arguing over who’s right in a game or the like. But we’ve had far fewer and less serious issues from their online life than we have with real life friendships.

FeralWoman · 09/10/2025 04:02

I think the social media ban age of 16 is bullshit and too old. The government still hasn’t properly told us how age will be verified. I’m not handing over ID documents to Meta etc so I can keep using Instagram or to Elon for Twitter and so on. I’m not convinced that adults won’t have to prove their age.

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 03:40

Except for pre-school and school obvs! ( forgot that ) and some outings at the nearest shopping centre with a group of friends , and visits with friends at their houses ( birthday parties or just a get together ). Just clarifying! He is not locked in the house. He has friends from all 4 schools he has been to . And they mainly keep in touch Online!!

OP posts:

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 03:36

LlamaNoDrama · 08/10/2025 11:56

What do we think could happen?

hmmm

grooming
seeing sexually explicit content
seeing other unsuitable content
blackmail
for a start

Again, the computer is in the main room of the house ( open plan) he has to have it on speaker - so I or my DP can hear every word that is said and we are pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I know of someone who was groomed walking home from the bus stop every day. Took a year. Do people stop their kids walking home around the corner from the bus stop? No. You mitigate risks. My DS has virtually never been out of my sight since he was born. I think his risk is close to zero. Yes I am a SAHM before someone asks.

OP posts:

Original poster

marsala1 · 09/10/2025 03:20

Fair enough, 5yo was probably too young but he is sitting here right now in the dining room ( remember Aus times) and I can hear him talking to his friends all over the world, plus those at home. He has his speaker on so there's no subterfuge possible. I can hear every word. The most I've ever had to do was say " Oi! You sound like a wally , be nice". If he is smashing someone at a game and acting like a bit of a tosser. Otherwise absolutely no problems. It's the equivalent of us 80's kids coming home and getting on the phone. I have learnt many phrases listening to him! "Skill issue " and "rizz" are the most annoying, though they seem to be dying out, thank goodness.
He just went to the zoo a couple of days ago with his best friend and they came home and played table tennis and then swam in the pool. ( It's holidays here and stupidly warm - I hate the heat). I have no worries about him except he hates sports, older 3 DC are with first husband , and they played footy ( all types ) and cricket and futsal etc. When forced to choose a sport he has gone with first , fencing, then badminton! One is a 45 minute drive! His grown up ( 20's) older siblings think he is hilarious.

OP posts:

GameWheelsAlarm · 08/10/2025 12:04

16 only feels too old because a generation of kids have had insufficient limits. A child browsing on youtube is only 3 advert-clicks away from hard porn and the algorithims don't protect children. An under 16 who never tried social media won't miss it and will have a healthier childhood. The 6-15yos who have already got used to age-inapprppropriate tech use will certainly have a difficult time but thar doesn't make the new rule wrong. Legitimate use like your roblocks example can easily be facilitated and supervised by an adult using an adult account to post the videos. A person a continent away who you exchange text messages with shouldn't be considered in the same category as real-life friends and children don't gave the maturity to filter this.

LlamaNoDrama · 08/10/2025 11:56

What do we think could happen?

hmmm

grooming
seeing sexually explicit content
seeing other unsuitable content
blackmail
for a start

HappyGolmore2 · 08/10/2025 11:28

It's going to be tricky but it's a culture change they're going for... good for them.

Our 13,14 and 15 years olds have no Social Media. They seem happy, well balanced individuals with good social lives so I can't see any adverse side affects. And they aren't obsessed with posting for 'likes' or tied to their phones.
They still know all the memes and trends etc. from friends and school or whatever...