Australia’s landmark move to ban under-16s from social media is likely to be closely watched by other countries, which could soon consider similar laws.
AFP spoke to teenagers and adults around the world about the Australian ban, which takes effect on Wednesday. Here are some of their reactions:
Mumbai: ‘Nothing is black or white’
At the seafront in Mumbai, 19-year-old Pratigya Jena scrolls with her friends through Instagram videos of a posing influencer and a camel at a beach.
Social media “should be partially banned because, according to me, nothing is either black or white”, the student said.
“Gen Z are very active, they are doing really well on social media. And doing great things, especially young entrepreneurs,” Jena added.
At the same time, she warned that children watching adult content online “has a very bad effect”.
At a Mumbai park, cricket coach Pratik Bhurke, 38, said Australia’s move would encourage children to spend more time outdoors and could have “great benefits” in India as well.
Berlin: ‘Help to detox’
In chilly Berlin, 13-year-old Luna Drewes watches selfie-style TikTok clips posted by other young people.
“Actually a good thing in some ways because social media often portrays a certain image of how people should look, like girls have to be thin,” she said of the ban.
Another teenager, Enno Caro Brandes, said: “I’m 15 so for me the ban would definitely come into effect. I can’t really imagine giving it up completely.
“A ban is a bit extreme, but it could definitely help to do a detox.”
Doha: ‘Really stupid’
In Doha, 16-year-old Firdha Razak scrolls through videos—including an AI baby singing and answering interview questions.
Razak is firmly against a ban. “It’s really stupid, honestly,” she said, though she acknowledged “there’s not really much we can do as 16-year-olds” if governments intervene.
She noted that many families in Qatar live abroad, so “it’s going to be so much harder to talk to them”.
Also in Doha, 16-year-old Youssef Walid said bans like Australia’s were “a bit harsh” and would be difficult to enforce.
“We can use VPN. We can easily bypass the security and easily make new accounts,” he said.
Lagos: ‘We were born with it’
At a Nigerian high school, Mitchelle Okinedo revises for exams using hand-written notes. Mobile phones are banned inside the classroom, where students sit at separate desks in uniform.
“I see where the (Australian) government is coming from. Students nowadays, they are really distracted,” Okinedo said.
Even so, “we were born with it”, the 15-year-old added. “And I don’t think it’s something I want to stop.”
Her mother, 50-year-old event planner Hannah Okinedo, supports a social media ban for under-16s, saying most parents “don’t have time to monitor their children all day”.
Mexico City: ‘Express yourself’
In Mexico City, 11-year-old Aranza Gomez has had a smartphone with social media access for a year.
Without it, “I would honestly feel sad. I wouldn’t really have a good way to spend my time,” she said.
Sixteen-year-old Santiago Ramirez Rojas scrolls through posts about Argentina and tour dates for a musician from a bench in the Tabacalera district.
“Social media today is very important for expressing yourself, no matter how old you are,” he said.
But he also warned that “there are many kidnappings that begin online” and that “younger kids, around 10 or 12, are much more vulnerable”.
Sydney: ‘Not going to have any impact’
In Australia, reactions are mixed even within families.
“I don’t think the government really knows what they’re doing and I don’t think it’s going to have any impact on children of Australia,” said 15-year-old Layton Lewis.
But his mother, Emily Lewis, hopes the ban will help children “have better, more authentic relationships”.
“They’ll make proper plans, like we used to, to meet up with their friends face-to-face and have proper conversations as opposed to these illusive friendships online,” she said.