Australia has moved to force social‑media platforms to block anyone under 16, and UK lawmakers are debating a copycat measure. The blog’s author, citing Andy Przybylski of the OII, argues that a child‑only prohibition ignores the broader context of digital use and may miss the real problem.

He likens the debate to historic panics over comics or TV, noting that studies linking social media to mental‑health decline are largely correlational and apply to adults as well. By pointing to gambling and junk‑food bans—where harms fall on adults despite child restrictions—he questions the logic of targeting youths alone.

Instead of a blanket ban, he urges regulators to tighten the Online Safety Act and enforce the ICO Children’s Code more rigorously, though he doubts current enforcement can keep pace with weekly platform updates. If any ban proves necessary, he argues it should apply universally, not just to minors, to avoid political expediency.