Down Under, It's a Digital Gag for the Kiddos (Down Under's Digital Silence for Youngsters) 🇦🇺
Investigative English (Sijun Tang)
By Ivy English Analysis
https://ourwebsite.com/News/lang
Hear ye, hear ye! Australia's taken a swing at the digital playing field, banning children under 16 from using the likes of X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. But there's a loophole for YouTube, leaving the platform untouched for now.
Why the fuss? A spate of teen suicides linked to cyberbullying has pushed Aussies to action. A whopping 77% of Australians are all for it, expressing concern over internet harassment and harmful content. Yet, naysayers fear that teenagers might find themselves in less-monitored environments like gaming platforms or encrypted messaging apps, conjuring new, unpredictable risks.
Photo: AdobeStock
Here, we shed light on some buzzwords:
- Distribute (vt.): Send or spread something.
- Translate (vt.): Change something into something else.
- Occupied (a.): Busy or preoccupied.
Example Sentences:- The brand will distribute the new product info online.- The artist translated his emotions into abstract paintings.- The professor was occupied with her research all afternoon.
A Handy Phrase to Ring Your Bell:
- Add to (v. phr.): Make something more complex by incorporating additional elements.
Example Sentence:- The new evidence added complexity to the case.
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This article originally appeared in the Ivy English Magazine: www.ivy.com.tw
In the Background:
Australia's move to ban under-16s from using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and platforms similar to Reddit, falls under a larger initiative to regulate the digital landscape for minors. The primary concern is shielding children from various online harms, such as misinformation, hate speech, and potentially harmful content. The regulation aims to hold tech companies accountable for enforcing age restrictions, with penalties for non-compliance.
It's worth noting that not all digital platforms stand under the same umbrella of regulation. YouTube, for example, might not face the same restrictions or could be regulated differently due to its nature as a video-sharing platform. The selection of specific platforms subject to the ban may be influenced by factors such as the type of content, user demographics, and the effectiveness of current regulatory measures on each platform.
Critics suggest that a social media ban for under-16s may not necessarily remedy the core issues of online harms, as age restrictions have been dubious in their effectiveness in other jurisdictions. Instead, broader strategies, such as implementing a duty of care for social media platforms to safeguard all users, are seen as more effective solutions.
This legislation is a reflection of a global trend among governments striving to regulate the digital environment for minors, typically resulting in diverse regional approaches.
- This landmark legislation passed in Australia, aimed at regulating the digital landscape for minors, has bans for children under 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and platforms similar to Reddit.
- A substantial 77% of Australians support this policy-and-legislation, expressing concerns over cyberbullying, internet harassment, and harmful content.
- One concern raised by naysayers is the potential increase of risks for teenagers who might find themselves in less-monitored environments like gaming platforms or encrypted messaging apps.
- Science and general-news outlets are translating this landmark development into discussions on health-and-wellness and mental-health, as well as the crime-and-justice implications that may arise from the ban.
- Politics is present as discussions take place on the policy-and-legislation, with concerns over the practicality of enforcing age restrictions and the potential impact on freedom-of-speech.
- Meanwhile, brands might want to strategize and add to their digital marketing efforts, considering the adjustments in Australia's digital landscape and the potential changes that may occur in other countries following this global trend.
