‘A beacon for all countries’: Australia leads global push with social media ban
Australia has lit up landmark bridges and stations in green and gold as the world watches the nation pioneer a social media ban for children under 16.
Long ago, in one of the first acts of a new nation, Australia passed laws that meant that most women could vote and stand for office.
These laws were far from perfect. But the western world was watching, and followed the example.
Another pioneering change was enacted in Australia on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the social media ban for under 16s “one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced”.
And, as with the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902, the world was watching.
At sunset in Australia’s capital cities on Wednesday, green and gold light displays lit up capital city landmarks.
Sydney went with the Harbour Bridge, Melbourne with Flinders St Station, Brisbane with the Story Bridge.
These images would be beamed to places such as Denmark, where at least one government minister felt “super envious” about the ban.
And across Europe, where the EU parliament has voted for a social media ban for under 16s.
And in Malaysia, which plans to emulate the Australian law next year.
And even in the US, where Rahm Emanuel, touted as a future presidential candidate, spoke of the need for America “to step up its game and do the same”.
“We’ve studied and debated what to do long enough to know what’s right,” he said.
“Now we need the strength to say enough is enough and to act.”
Each New Year’s Eve, the Sydney Harbour Bridge lights up many hours before the London Eye explodes in colour and New York bows to its Times Square Ball Drop.
Sydney’s fireworks, with the assistance of every other Australian capital city, set the international mood for the year ahead.
Lighting landmarks for a new law is not a celebration, not in the way that Flinders St Station lit up for Taylor Swift and the mania of her many local disciples.
Nor is it blind jingoism.
It’s a statement, bold and simple.
Bathurst parent Emma Mason was a leading advocate of News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign.
In September, she told the UN that there were about 1.2 million 13-15-year-olds in Australia, and about 220 million 13-15-year-olds around the globe.
Her point? That the job was far from finished.
On Wednesday, Mason said: “It’s lighting up Australia on the world stage and standing as a beacon for all countries to follow suit.”
Fellow parent Mia Bannister said: “This is not about lighting up for legislation, this is about lighting up for our lost children and the generations of children we are going to save.”
Australia’s social media ban will not be perfect. But its introduction on Wednesday was a first step in an international movement.
Australia’s reform will almost certainly be enshrined as the catalyst for similar reforms in foreign lands.
The green and gold worldwide coverage, as NSW premier Chris Minns said, sent a message.
That Australia was prepared to lead was certainly part of that message.
That Australia stood up to social media giants, which ordinarily dismiss the concerns of sovereign governments with arrogant disdain, was another.
But mostly, the light displays served as an invitation.
Follow us, they extolled.
Wayne Holdsworth lost his son, Mac, after Mac was sextorted online.
On Wednesday, he hugged Albanese and spoke of a “historic day”.
“Mac will see the lights from Heaven,” he said.
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Originally published as ‘A beacon for all countries’: Australia leads global push with social media ban
