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Australia’s social media ban for youth below 16: A simplistic solution to a complex issue?
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The Australian government’s legislation allows platforms to decide how to impose the ban, but says they must have “some form of age assurance” system for those who create and hold accounts.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY - When the second of his three children turned 11 recently and received a smartphone as a birthday present, Sydney resident Jason Wong encouraged her to use it safely, knowing first-hand about the dangers she could now face.
Seven years ago, Mr Wong noticed that his oldest daughter, who was then also 11, looked a little “off” and so he asked whether anything was wrong. It turned out that weeks earlier she had experienced cyber bullying in a chat group.

