Australia's Teen Social Media Ban Is Failing Because It Misdiagnoses the Problem

Teen Social Media Bans Miss the Point

Australia's under-16 social media ban, the world's first, is failing: seven in ten teens still use social media, and research shows even lower compliance. Cultural anthropologist Mizuko Ito argues the ban rests on two flawed narratives—technological determinism and adult saviorism—that ignore teen agency and the real drivers of youth distress. Instead of doubling down on enforcement, she calls for involving teens in shaping technology through design, privacy controls, and digital rights.