Recently, the Australian government has drafted and approved legislation to restrict social media access for anyone under 16 (maybe even 18), with mandatory ID verification as the enforcement method. This decision will force not just young people, but all citizens of Australia to hand over personal data just to access platforms that millions use daily. We believe this is a dangerous invasion of privacy and a step too far.

What We’re Fighting For:

1. Protecting Privacy: The use of mandatory ID verification threatens our right to privacy, especially for younger users. Forcing people to submit personal information opens up risks of data misuse and cybercrime.
2. Freedom of Access: Social media plays a crucial role in communication, creativity, and staying connected. Restricting access under the guise of age control hurts young people’s right to engage with the world.
3. Realistic Age Limits: We believe this arbitrary cut-off is unnecessary. Parents should have the right to decide what's best for their kids, not the government.
4. VPNs: A Heavy Lack of Enforcement: There’s already a widespread use of VPNs, making these restrictions ineffective in practice. Teens will find workarounds, which just begs the question on why the government is even bothering.
5. Youth already lack basic speech rights: Our voices are often silenced in public spaces, and this ban only adds to the growing list of ways we are shut out of important conversations.

Our fight is far from over. Join us in saying NO to this overreach and YES to protecting our privacy, autonomy, and freedom online. Together, we can #KEEPTHEAGESAME and stop these harmful policies before they become the new normal!