Amnesty International has criticized a recent ban, labeling it as an “ineffective quick fix” that fails to ensure the safety of children online.

“To genuinely safeguard children and young people on the internet, we need to protect all users of social media by implementing more effective regulations, strengthening data protection laws, and encouraging better platform design,” stated Damini Satija, director of the Amnesty Tech program.

Satija emphasized the necessity for strong protections to prevent social media platforms from harming users through aggressive tactics aimed at increasing engagement and exploiting personal data.

She acknowledged the detrimental impact of these practices on younger users but stressed that children also have the right to “express themselves online, access information, and engage in the digital public sphere.”

“Many young people will likely find ways to circumvent these restrictions. A ban merely drives their activities underground, exposing them to the same risks in a more concealed manner,” Satija noted.

She advocated for the Australian government to equip young people with the education and resources needed to navigate social media safely.

“It must also put pressure on social media platforms to stop putting profit over the safety of users. We must build a pathway towards a digitally safe society, relying on regulation as one of the tools at our disposal.”