Honest Government Ad | Social Media Ban
Dear Patrons
Here is our latest Honest Government Ad which you've helped us to produce.
Taking a break from auspol has been somewhat salubrious; but we're stoked to be back on our usual beat! And we're kicking off with a topic that is being talked about a lot right now: the Australian Government's social media ban for under-16s.
We know many people, especially parents, support this ban. Their concern for their children on social media are absolutely valid (as parents ourselves, we share those concerns) and something absolutely needs to be done. But our kids deserve better than this; they deserve leaders who'll fight for them against industries that are trying to exploit them - and not just Big Tech, also the gambling and fossil-fuel industries. So we'll keep pushing for reforms that do that; and which protect not just our kids but all of us, our societies and democracy. We can do this.
But right now, this law is here. So the main message we want this HGA to promote, is to look out for your young people as the new law comes into effect. (Talk to your kids!)
In other news:
We're filming a new HGA next week, which will come out in early January as it's about an event happening then (no spoilers!). So today's HGA will be the twelfth and last one for 2025. Thank you to everyone here for supporting our work this year!
Lastly: if you're in Melbourne/Naarm this week: a reminder about this event with some very awesome folks whom we've helped to bring to Australia. We hope to see you there!
Take care
Giordano & team
Comments (10)
Like any other ban this gives our youth another incentive to seek something we have just made elite. When will we learn? Prohibition doesn’t work.
The ban will be a useless mess as under 16s will find ways around it and new messaging platforms to use in secret. As said, this is doing something for the sake of looking like you’ve done something.
I’ve been waiting to see how things going to be enforced. Last I heard, it will be up to the platforms. Anyone know how they’re planning on doing it? I saw a lot of comments about “this is a sneaky way to implement Digital ID and track us”, but no actual info
No at all, and a few have even stopped and gone "ahuh" when I've pointed out the cons of this knee jerk policy, I work in IT, my boys have been taught "mindful use of technology" as opposed to "ban it until they find away to access it without me knowing". The three of us are ND so it has been an important bonding and learning experience. Having some septogeneraian fucknuckles tell me how to parent my boys and guide their online interactions is irksome.
Watched this with my young person. Thank you
Brilliantly done, as always. There is so much that could really be done to regulate and improve social media. If only the people in government actually were educated on all this and had both individually and collectively a spine to stand up and do what really needs to be done ... but I guess if they had those two attributes they'd never have gone into politics in the first place.
Doing something... just not something actually useful. Yup. Sounds just like my local town government. Rearranging deck chairs indeedy.
This is perfect 👏👏👏
I've been quietly seething about this and biting my tongue around very ill informed parents.... Glad this is out so I can just pass it on rather than arguing with narrow minded idiots!
They're likely not all narrow minded idiots. They obviously care about their kids, and there has been a lot of media pushing hard the idea that this is something useful. Empathy and education can go hand in hand! But yeah keeping the link to this handy is likely a good idea. :)