Australia’s Social Media Ban for Under 16s: Control or Protection?

“The Australian Government passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 in November to ban young people under the age of 16 from using certain social media platforms. This will include Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X, among others.” Source

The ban is going to take effect by December 2025. To allow social media companies time to conform to the new laws. Learn more

Freedom of Choice

People often overlook the fact that freedom of choice is just as important as freedom of speech. While discussions about democracy and freedom still abound, one of the key issues that significantly influenced voter decisions in the 2024 US election was whether the government should allow women to have abortions.

All cults, dictators, religious figures, and communist leaders began their careers by establishing rules and restrictions that they believed to be better suited to the society based on an ideology or a divine authority. But are they really?

My background

I moved to Australia from Iran 15 years ago as a Software Engineer. My generation has witnessed the evolution of communication technology, from cable phones to wireless and mobile phones, as well as the rise of the Internet. I was among the first generation to use the IBM 286 Personal Computer, which featured a monochrome screen and used floppy disks, before Windows and Apple became widely popular.

Growing up, I was surrounded by books, cassettes, and a limited number of TV channels during the 1970s, a time when hippies, drugs, nude clubs, and nude parties were prevalent in the western world. This was also the period when stability in the Middle East began to fade due to the Mullah’s revolution in 1979.

I was a teenager during the 80s when being gay was cool, but HIV was uncool. I grew up during the Iraq-Iran War, under a radical Islamist regime and in a state of suppression. While I have read about the US-Vietnam War, I experienced the Iraq-Iran War firsthand. A war that resulted in over one million deaths, including many innocent civilians. In my life, I have lived through at least a dozen wars around the world, including the Cold War. I witnessed significant events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Chernobyl disaster, and the collapse of the USSR.

So it would be fair to say I know my shit!

Social Media Ban in Australia: What you need to know?

I belonged to an ancient nation whose core was built on freedom of choice. However, I ended up living under a repressive regime that dictated even personal choices, such as what to wear. In search of my long-lost freedom, I left my home country and ventured to another part of the world. But sadly, I have come to realize that the freedom I had hoped for is a myth.

This piece should have been written when the government first introduced the social media ban in Australia. I hesitated to address this topic due to the community’s defensive and often hostile attitude to new voices.

After losing my home country to fundamentalist muslims and lefties who stripped us of our basic freedoms and rights, the thought of it happening again in my new country made me more responsible. I have learned that freedom must be constantly protected. I have learned that not every political event is as simple as it might look. So I will write this article despite any hostility I may receive from Australians, left, right, extremists, Marxists, or muslims. I hope my experience helps others not to accept anything imposed on them without questioning its grounds.

Parental role

Upon arriving in Australia, the number of conservative families I encountered was quite surprising. My first landlord came from an old farming family that homeschooled their children and opposed the school system in Australia. She was conservative, strict, and religious, holding regular Christian study sessions every Sunday on her farm. Soon, I learned her oldest son was convicted of a serious crime involving a dozen children who attended Sunday sessions for more than a decade. This revelation was shocking to me, as I had never been so close to such an event in my life. However, given my understanding of social interactions and my life experiences in a conservative environment, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Restrictions: the beginning of failure

Over the years, I have learned that those who are being suppressed and controlled tend to become more chaotic and unpredictable. The role of parenting should be focused on explaining and reasoning with children rather than exerting control. On the other hand, delegating parental responsibilities to the government risks limiting our freedoms. It can lead to increased control and restrictions in society and create even more chaos over time. This issue is already evident in the UK. More than 30 individuals have recently been arrested for their social media posts in the UK. Source

Social media serves as a virtual representation of our society. Implementing rules and regulations is essential to prevent chaos, similar to what we experience in our communities. However, this does not mean we should suppress one group in favor of another and limit our freedom of questioning!

Government Parental Role

As an active social media user since the early days, I can easily trace back the events that led to the new regulation introduced by the Australian government for under-16s.

Some governments around the world fear losing control over news narratives and, consequently, over their communities. They are exerting all their power to regain that control by preventing news from reaching social media without their filtering. The strategy specifically targets the most vibrant and active generation.

This concern didn’t arise when many members of this vibrant young generation were experiencing online bullying, abuse, and sex trafficking. No measures were taken to address when individuals were losing their lives due to online harassment. There was no control and protection when they were continually bombarded by religious or Marxist ideologies.

After Elon Musk purchased Twitter, he disregarded governments’ censorship guidelines. This raised concerns among the Australian government for our young generations and the introduction of the new Ban.

The start of the end

The Christchurch mosque attack

Let’s get back to 2022, when the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) complained about X (formerly Twitter), alleging that the platform failed to remove or geoblock posts that allegedly vilified Australian Muslims, particularly those published in the aftermath of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks. Source

The Christchurch mosque attack was recognized as a terrorist attack by an individual who, according to the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry, was “a white Australian male and 28 years old in March 2019”. He displayed racist behavior from a young age. His life experiences appear to have fueled resentment, and he became radicalized, forming extreme right-wing views about people he considered a threat. As we explain in detail in Part 4: The terrorist, we are satisfied that the individual acted alone.” Source

Extremists, whether Christian or Muslim, emerge from societies that are suppressed and fearful. In these societies, individuals are often manipulated by ideologies. Independent thinking is not encouraged. People are categorized based on race, wealth, and social class. In such environments, the desire for belonging can lead to the formation of cults and groups. Some may gather around a religion, while others may centre on specific ideologies or, in today’s context, various sexual orientations. These groups tend to isolate themselves, avoiding interaction and learning from diverse perspectives.

And no need to mention that extremist radicals have always been a dangerous tool for those seeking political advantages.

Sydney church stabbing

Fast forward to April 2024, when another terrorist attack happened in Sydney. “At around 7 pm on Monday, a teenager wearing a black hoodie walked up to a bishop conducting a service in an Orthodox church in western Sydney, took out a knife and allegedly stabbed him repeatedly.” Source

This time, videos and news spread by witnesses all over the X. As a result, the streets around the Christ the Good Shepherd church in Wakeley descended into violent chaos.

Being an active X user, I saw all the posts firsthand. As well as the news about the Australian government’s requests to X for removal. In those posts, the majority of the individuals on the street at the time of the incident were teenagers.

The reports and articles regarding these two separate incidents indirectly attribute “Islamophobia” as the cause of both terrorist attacks. As a born Muslim in a country where Islam was forcibly imposed, I must confess that the mosque attack reminds me of the Cinema Rex incident in Iran in 1978. Similarly, the Sydney church stabbing evokes memories of the attack on Salman Rushdie.

Islamophobia

Historical background of the term

Islamophobia is a relatively new term that emerged in the 1970s. At a time when extremists, with the support of major world powers such as Communist Russia (the USSR), Britain, the United States, and their allies, gained control of Iran, one of the most strategic, wealthy, and important countries in the world. The repercussions of this event have not only created chaos in Iran but have also affected global stability today, reaching as far as Australia. Despite efforts by Australians to downplay Iran’s significance and follow Britain’s longstanding policies, the country’s strategic and historical importance on a global scale cannot be overlooked.

I recommend reading “Time for Truth,” by Princess Ashraf Pahlavi in 1995. This book explains more about Iran’s significance and the aspects often overlooked by the Australian government and media. Princess Ashraf vividly describes many of the issues we are currently facing. She courageously highlighted concerns that were evident over a decade earlier and overlooked by many politicians.

The risk associated with this term

I am not an atheist. I believe in a divine authority that created humans, as we are too fragile to control our own existence. However, I also find the speeches by Christopher Hitchens quite eye-opening regarding the dangers this belief poses to our society.

Muslims have coined Islamophobia to silence criticism of their beliefs and religion. Islam encompasses more than just a religion and does not support the separation of religion from politics. This effectively means stifling anyone who critiques their political views.

This has led to their constant hostility towards other religions. It has been their foundation to freely argue that Islam is the last and the best of the religions. They systematically influenced the world’s self-serving political leaders with their wealth and demanded that Sharia law be applied in free countries. They have already successfully been able to influence the UK under excuses such as cultural and religious differences and carry out honor killings without any consequences.

The significance of knowledge

“This documentary is more relevant than ever, young British women and girls are raped and murdered by their Muslim family members in so called “honour killings” for embracing British culture and adopting western values. As you can see in the documentary, the British police ignored the victims’ cry for help, out of fear of being accused of racism and Islamophobia.”

This documentary is more relevant than ever, young British women and girls are raped and murdered by their Muslim family members in so called “honour killings” for embracing British culture and adopting western values.
As you can see in the documentary, the British police ignored… pic.twitter.com/wJYCKoZvc2

— Liza Rosen (@LizaRosen0000) January 8, 2025

These are some of the truths that most governments hide from their citizens and are willing to conceal. I believe this social ban in Australia for under-16s is just the beginning. They are primarily targeting the next generation.

Voice referendum

This may seem irrelevant, but the alliances forming between Radical Islamists and Native Australians in recent years, branded as Pro-Palestinians, make this subject more significant than ever.

As an Australian voter, I prioritize local and foreign policies introduced by political parties over loyalty to their ideologies. Although I voted for the Liberals in the last election and am standing with my decision, I find it difficult to understand their policies on issues such as abortion, working from home, and their stance on the Voice referendum.

As an immigrant arriving in Australia, I noticed the distinct flags representing Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, as well as the additional financial support and privileges provided to Indigenous Australians as a form of compensation. I honestly expected that they would already have representatives in the government to consult on cultural matters and represent them. Therefore, I was quite surprised when Australia voted “No” in the recent referendum. Reading the opposing arguments for this decision never made much sense to me.

The consequence

In my opinion, this unnecessary hostility has contributed to a troubling alliance between Aboriginal communities and radical Islamists. While radical Islamists are fabricating a false historical narrative to gain sympathy and support globally, the disappointing No vote in the referendum has effectively indicated majority support among the Aboriginal community for their cause. Additionally, this situation fosters a sense of exclusion among Aboriginal people. I believe that this alliance and isolation could lead to further issues for Australia in the future, problems that could easily be avoided.

Positive impacts of social media on children

No technology is introduced to the masses without having some campaign against it. TV, Computer, Internet, and Mobile and now social platforms and AI have all been at some stage of their existence, an evil cause!

The truth is that the tools themselves are not evil. It is the users or developers behind them who can potentially have harmful intentions.

In discussions with the younger generation, I have come to realize that mobile and social media have positively impacted their lives in many ways. For some, these platforms have created additional income streams through online businesses, fostering a sense of personality and independence from a very young age. They have also helped build supportive communities, showcase diverse cultures, and encourage young people to overcome their fears of the unknown. I have even heard stories of disadvantaged children who lack immediate family support, connecting with older individuals who assume a grandparent-like role, offering constructive advice for their future. Therefore, it becomes clear that social media is not solely responsible for the challenges faced by the younger generation; much of it relates to the loss of control over narratives by governments.

I view this more as a form of control rather than a means of protection.