Australia has just become the first country in the world to ban access to social media for those under 16. The diagnosis is clear: mainstream social networks have become toxic because they only seek profit at any cost, even at the expense of the physical, mental, and relational health of their users. What we reject is the business model, based on addiction and data exploitation. And therein lies the Australian mistake: instead of attacking this gravitational model that traps users, they have expelled the users themselves.
In the name of protection, the measure has generated a predictable centrifugal force: instead of limiting digital use, it has distributed it. Downloads of alternative apps and anonymous forums are skyrocketing. Initial data shows that millions of teenagers have been drawn to minority and less regulated platforms, places where control is nonexistent and the risks are perhaps greater. Roblox and Discord continue to operate so that the gaming It has not been included in the ban. Teenagers have also trained their skills. hacker Challenging the various verification systems, creating fake accounts, or using VPNs.
There are groups especially vulnerable to this dynamic of exclusion, which affects girls much more than boys. For young people with disabilities or belonging to LGBTIQ+ minorities, social media had been, for years, the only space in which to find peers, support, role models, and a sense of belonging. Suddenly cutting off the space of socialization they have known for years generates disorientation and, above all, breaks trust in the institutions that should be protecting them. The digital transition of adolescents needs support, not displacement.
The ban, at least, is serving two purposes: on the one hand, to stimulate competition and challenge the hegemony of the large platforms. On the other, to accelerate the implementation of digital identity infrastructures (such as myID), which have been on the government's agenda for some time. This ban is a large-scale pilot program that turns millions of adolescents into subjects of a technological experiment. The perfect use case.
Ultimately, the difficult path is building alternatives instead of banning. What if we committed to creating healthy digital spaces, free from addictive algorithms and predatory advertising? Complex solutions require debate, active listening, and a willingness to undergo profound transformation. Teenagers deserve to be part of this conversation, as do companies in the sector with a responsible approach. What we need are not centrifugal experiments, but a real commitment to redesigning digital spaces from the ground up: with transparency, youth participation, and a model that prioritizes well-being over profit. Only in this way will we build safe and healthy digital environments. Let's learn from this upheaval to reclaim the social networks we deserve: digital spaces where we can connect with those who matter to us, where we can share, respect, and take better care of each other.
