Australian Government is going to ban Youtube and Online Gaming for Under 16s

[PKantos]

This goes hand in hand with a misinformation bill they are trying to pass through the senate.

The Australian Government are trying to basically ban under 16s from any thing social from the internet including online games, you tube, social media platforms, even roblox, reddit and discord.
The only way to enforce this is requiring everyone to prove who they are with their real world identity.
They are also trying to stop VPNs as well from circumventing this.

It's not about kids, its about introducing a digital id they can link to your real world identity so if you post something critical about the current government they can track and fine or arrest you.

It is entirely a parents responsibility to control their kids social media and gaming, not the governments.

This is bad for every single person in Australia, left or right, young or old.

Its likely going to take international outrage to stop this.

https://press-start.com.au/news/2024/11/08/online-gaming-platforms-and-youtube-will-also-seemingly-be-banned-for-aussies-under-16/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-08/how-the-age-minimum-for-social-media-will-work/104571790

[PKantos]

Both major parties are supporting this ban. We aussies are screwed..

[peppermint hollows]

It's always under the guise of "We have to protect the children..."

Best of luck to Australians, hope somehow nothing comes of this

[Xautos]

Australians have always been a bit crazy, so this is nothing out the ordinary.
Easy to put in place, hard to police, even harder to enforce when millions of children are all finding a way around it.

[Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...]

the people of australia must foster an alliance with the emu population to overthrow the tyrannical government

[steven1mac]

It is always the same ploy of "think of the children", and people are more than willing to sign their rights away. Even the best intentions will backfire over time, as the government slowly changes the original intention to a way to gain more control over it's citizens.

[Puggly the Grey]

Le U.S. will be doin’ sometin similar come next year, it’s too late now.

[bluesky66621]

Messaggio originale di steven1mac:

It is always the same ploy of "think of the children", and people are more than willing to sign their rights away. Even the best intentions will backfire over time, as the government slowly changes the original intention to a way to gain more control over it's citizens.

Coming from US, I say this is nothing new. Politicians always use "think of children" excuse to pass a law or a bill. There's many laws on the books in US that's still in effect. I doubt it will backfire as these laws passed in the Congress rather than by general voting.

[PKantos]

Messaggio originale di bluesky66621:

Messaggio originale di steven1mac:

It is always the same ploy of "think of the children", and people are more than willing to sign their rights away. Even the best intentions will backfire over time, as the government slowly changes the original intention to a way to gain more control over it's citizens.

Coming from US, I say this is nothing new. Politicians always use "think of children" excuse to pass a law or a bill. There's many laws on the books in US that's still in effect. I doubt it will backfire as these laws passed in the Congress rather than by general voting.

yup

[Spirit]

doesn't help us older players much when the ban is only in australia. smite for example would be actually playable if it wasn't full of 10 year old kids spamming insults

[TGC> The Games Collector]

From what I'm reading there australia will lose a large part of the internet.

Companies are still too lazy to implement age verification, so they'd probably prefer to IP ban the country "for the sake of the children". Especially when all responsibility is thrown on the companies.

[MistuhG]

Legislating echochambers. That should go well.

[salamander7688]

I sincerely hope every social media platform tells the Australian government that they'll simply withdraw their services entirely.

If you think America is run by idiots - you have no idea how Australia's political class only seems to consist of the kind of moronic imbeciles you wouldn't even trust with crayons.

And that's been charitable. Kind even.

[Ulfrinn]

Messaggio originale di Dusk of Oolacile:

You all misread it as it was upside down. It's gonna be banned for everyone under 61.

Good luck!

16 upside down isn't 61, it's 91.

[Vince ✟]

They have the right idea. They are just implementing it wrong.


To sign into the internet via ISP you need verification of identity so that all activity online can be regulated properly. No ID, No Log-In. That means under 16 also cannot log in without someone using their ID for them.

This I support. Parents dont do their jobs, someone has to pick up the slack.

[videomike_Ultimate_Plushie]

Messaggio originale di TGC> The Games Collector:

From what I'm reading there australia will lose a large part of the internet.

Companies are still too lazy to implement age verification, so they'd probably prefer to IP ban the country "for the sake of the children". Especially when all responsibility is thrown on the companies.

they have age verification, but there's no solution at all that isn't storing digital copies of people's IDs onto servers. After the Ashley Madison leak and the suicides that happened thereof you wanna hand over the risk of that over the entire internet? In a world in which three MAJOR internet providers including one that does the large majority of world background checks got hacked? That be wildly reckless if not stupid.

I agree with OP, this is Australlia trying to enforce the internet to require I.Ds, something everyone should refuse to do, no, matter, what.