Ban Social Media For Teens? What Switzerland Can Learn From Australia

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Australia’s ban on social media for people under 16 has sparked global debate. Switzerland is also weighing rules for online platforms, but experts warn bans alone won’t fix the problems caused by harmful algorithms and addictive design. Select your language

Generated with artificial intelligence. Listening: Ban social media for teens? What Switzerland can learn from Australia This content was published on April 1, 2026 - 09:00 8 minutes

I analyse the risks, opportunities and concrete impacts of artificial intelligence on society and everyday life. Since joining SWI swissinfo in 2020, I translate the complexity of science and technology into stories that speak to a global audience. Born in Milan to an Italian-Egyptian family, I have been passionate about knowledge and writing since childhood. I worked between Milan and Paris as a multilingual editor for technology magazines before transitioning to international journalism with SWI swissinfo.

More from this aut

Italian Departm

Italiano it Vietare i social ai minori? Cosa può imparare la Svizzera dall’Australia Original Read more: Vietare i social ai minori? Cosa può imparare la Svizzera dall’Aust

Countries around the world have debated age limits on social media for years, but Australia was the first to act. In December 2025, it blocked access to ten platforms, including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, for minors under 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calledExternal link it“the day Australian families take back control from Big Tech”.

Major tech platforms are under scrutiny worldwide. Recently, US courts ruled against Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and Google’s YouTube in separate cases, over harms ranging from child sexual exploitationExternal link to mental health issues and addictionExternal link.

Australia’s move triggered a chain reaction. Countries such as Spain, France and the United Kingdom are considering similar measures.

As Switzerland weighs its own response, experts and civil society organisations warn that the central issue is not just who uses social media, but how platforms and their algorithms operate and the influence they exert on users.

A long-delayed Swiss law to regulate communication platforms and search enginesExternal link has recently undergone public consultation, involving political parties, private companies and other stakeholders. While the law requires platforms to build tools for reporting abuse, it does not compel them to prevent harm or protect minors. Nor does it include a mechanism to sanction major tech companies for violations.

Critically, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots and systems, which determine what content users see and how long they stay online, remain largely unregulated.

This is a major shortcoming, says Australian expert Daniel Angus, director of the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology.

“If we want to improve platforms for society as a whole, we need to intervene in how they are designed and in their economic logic, not just who is allowed to use them,” he says.

‘A ban does not solve the problem’

Angus sees Australia’s law as too simplistic and says it fails to address the structural causes of online harm.“It is a law that does not support young people, does not educate them and does not solve the underlying problems,” he says.

The real issue, Angus says, is the platforms’ business model, which relies on AI algorithms to profile users, maximise attention and increases time spent online to sell advertising.

Content recommendation systems often operate in opaque ways, yet Angus says the Australian law does not impose greater transparency.

He also believes that excluding young people could reduce pressure on lawmakers to limit harmful posts and advertising, based on the assumption that the need for moderation is lessened if minors are not present.

“Why not clean up platforms instead of excluding young people? Why not remove harmful content and improve the experience for everyone?” he asks.

Canberra defends its law

The Australian Government, for its part, defends its approach. In response to questions from Swissinfo, a spokesperson for Australia’s eSafety Commissioner stressed that the ban is only one part of a broader framework.

This includes measures to tackle online abuse, cyberbullying and illegal content, including material generated through AI, such as deepfakes. Authorities can also require platforms to provide information on how they manage AI-related risks.

According to the spokesperson, these measures are already having an impact. One example is a UK-based company offering widely used“nudify” services – which generate fake intimate images, often of minors, using AI – that withdrew its platforms from the Australian market.

Is the Australian law working? Early data is unclear

Initial data following the introduction of the ban shows mixed results. On the one hand, social media platforms have reportedly removed millions of accountsExternal link linked to minors. Meanwhile, 61% of parents who participated in a government surveyExternal link say they have noticed positive effects on their children, including more in-person interactions.

However, several concerns are emerging. Around a quarter of parents say their children have moved to alternative platforms and report a decline in social interaction and creativity.

In addition, the ban appears easy to circumvent, according to several Australian media reportsExternal link. This issue was already highlighted in a UNICEF surveyExternal link of more than 2’000 young people aged 13 to 17 in Australia, which found that nearly a quarter are often able to bypass restrictions.“This shows how important it is to create safer digital platforms, rather than simply restricting access,” Katie Maskiell, head of policy and advocacy at UNICEF Australia, wrote in a post onlineExternal link.

Angus confirms this trend:“I hear stories every day of young people who are still on Instagram despite the restrictions,” he says.

** >> The younger generation in Switzerland can no longer do without chatbots:**

More More Swiss AI ‘I don’t remember what it was like without AI’: Swiss youth are getting hooked to chatbots

This content was published on Apr 1, 2026 From study aides to emotional support, AI chatbots are becoming constant companions for many young people in Switzerland, raising concerns about attention levels, loneliness and dependence.

Read more: ‘I don’t remember what it was like without AI’: Swiss youth are getting hooked to cha

MENAFN01042026000210011054ID1110931469