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Original poster

To be not that happy with the Aus under 16 rules

57 replies

marsala1 · 08/10/2025 09:46

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
marsala1 · 08/10/2025 10:07

I'm not sure. People will meet online far more often than in person, that may already be the case. I think if they have the tech to track criminals the they should definitely do that. Not spend time and money tracking down 14 and 15 yo's playing games. It's a swing too far
to the right for me.

OP posts:
BoobsOnTheMoon · 08/10/2025 10:06

marsala1 · 08/10/2025 10:03

Yep, def Youtube. There was a big debate about it. I'm quite happy for my 13yo to be on youtube so find it a bit overreaching from the govt. We are are a very easy going lot but this seems to have slipped through.

So if he's had the account and been posting videos "for years" what age was he when you first let him have unrestricted access to YouTube?

Kimbap · 08/10/2025 10:03

Of course there are disadvantages. But the advantages of the ban outweigh the disadvantages.

Original poster
marsala1 · 08/10/2025 10:03

Yep, def Youtube. There was a big debate about it. I'm quite happy for my 13yo to be on youtube so find it a bit overreaching from the govt. We are are a very easy going lot but this seems to have slipped through.

OP posts:
TheJessops · 08/10/2025 10:00

My 13 year olds sons YouTube account is actually mine, which I assume would get around any age laws, and I can also keep an eye on what he is watching/doing on there. I set up another one for myself so I don't have to trawl through Fortnite videos! Does the ban definitely include YouTube as there are an awful lot of YouTubers on there whose primary audience is under 16's!?

However I totally agree with the ban for things like Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. WhatsApp is a tricky one too as that's how I communicate with the kids when they are not home, and we send each other silly things too. I have boys, and I must say WhatsApp seems to cause a lot more trouble between girl groups from what I hear from other mums.

It'll be hard for the generation whose lives are already heavily involved in social media such as your son, but for the next lot coming up it'll probably be a very good thing.

(I am in the UK)

Spinaltapped · 08/10/2025 10:00

I think 16 is too old, 14 would be more reasonable. I imagine that lots of teens will manage to circumvent the rules, but I do think it is necessary to try to reduce kids access to social media.

Original poster
marsala1 · 08/10/2025 09:53

Apologies for bad spelling!!!

OP posts: