Due to the seriousness of the woman, social media was banned for children in Australia, opening the way to save mental health
South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas’ wife prompted him to take action after reading American psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 bestseller The Anxious Generation. As a result, in just six months, Malinauskas’ state-level policy in the country’s second-smallest state turned into national law.
Australia has become the first country to impose a national ban on social media for children under the age of 16. This step was taken amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of youth and all this was made possible by the seriousness of a politician’s wife. In fact, South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas took action on this issue on the suggestion of his wife.
His wife had asked him to take action on this after reading the 2024 bestseller book The Anxious Generation by American psychologist Jonathan Haidt. As a result, in just six months, the state-level policy of Malinauskas, the country’s second-smallest state, turned into a national law. Malinauskas, who himself leads only seven percent of the country’s population of 27 million, could not believe it. Malinauskas told the media in Adelaide on Friday that he did not think it would be implemented so soon. This decision by the government of the world’s smallest continent shows what can be done with massive public support.
Albanese got the support of 77 percent of the country’s population
According to Australia’s government U Government survey, 77 percent of Australian citizens supported the move to completely ban social media for children under the age of 16.
According to Rodrigo Preno, Professor of Politics and Public Policy at Flinders University in South Australia, federal elections are to be held in the country in early 2025. In such a situation, the federal government, including PM Anthony Albanese, acknowledged that this is a problem that should be resolved for the whole country.
Rupert Murdoch’s Let Them Be Kids campaign warned
High-profile events in Australia and the Let Them Be Kids campaign led by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp raised the issue. News Corp supported the campaign to ban TikTok.
The law was passed despite opposition
In September, South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas introduced a policy to ban social media for children under 14 years of age. PM Albanese immediately supported it and in November he introduced it in Parliament. The leftist Green Party called this law made in a hurry and unjust for the youth. At the same time, some right-wing MPs broke away from their party’s support and opposed this law. Nevertheless, this law was passed on the last day of Parliament with bipartisan support. The law will come into force by the end of 2025. Age verification technology will be tested next year.