Australian Teenagers Make The Government Dizzy! Ban On Social Media Threatened With Total Failure?

JAKARTA - Australia is on the front lines in an effort to restrict children and youth access to social media, with a trial of age recognition software that has been going on since January 2025. However, behind these efforts, it is the teens themselves who are seen as the biggest challenges: they are judged to always find loopholes to outsmart them.

One of the trial participants, Jasmine Elkin, a 13-year-old student from Perth, admitted that she was surprised that some products could guess a person's age until her month. However, he remains skeptical of his effectiveness.

"People will definitely find a way to avoid it," Jasmine said after testing five photo-based software with about 30 other students last May. They could use photos of their sister or sister. Nothing much can be done to prevent that.

The Australian government plans to start in December 2025 requiring platforms such as Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, to take "normal measures" to block users under the age of 16. If violated, the company could be fined up to USD 49.5 million (approximately IDR 524 billion) for reasons to protect children's mental and physical health.

Currently, these platforms officially only allow users aged 13 years and over. However, the implementation of this ban has the potential to have a major impact on global tech giants and become an example for other countries considering similar policies. The UK, France, and Singapore have reviewed age protection policies, while several US states such as Florida are also pushing for bans.

Technological figures such as Elon Musk have also voiced criticism, calling the regulators who oversee this policy a "sensor commissioner".

All eyes are now focused on Australia. We have to make sure the technology used is really solid and in line with its protection goals, "said Colm Gannon, CEO of the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children Australia who is part of a trial advisory group, quoted by VOI from Reuters.

The trial conducted by the KJR technology contractor involved nearly 60 products. According to the general manager of KJR, Andrew Life, the youth who participated in the trial were very deftly so that the number of tested products was added and the test time was shortened.

"Our goal is not to dismantle the product and find a gap," saidaya. But indeed we see how quickly they adapt.

The results of the trial will generally be presented on June 20, while the full report will be submitted to the government by the end of July. This report will be taken into consideration by the Commissioner of ESafety who previously expressed concern about cyberbullying, content that damages the body's image, and misogynistic content.

"We are aware that age restrictions on social media are not an absolute solution, but this is an important first step to keeping our children safe," said Communications Minister spokesman Anika Wells.

How Did Youths Respond?

For teens like Canberra's Charlie Price (14), who also tested four software in a room containing about 60 students, this ban could be a major change in their lives.

"I often use (social media), but I can still live without it," Charlie said, adding that he would collect his friends' contact numbers before the ban took effect. Charlie uses Snapchat, Instagram, and Discord, and admits some of his friends may be very surprised and disappointed.

His friend, Emanuel Casa (15 years old), said that even though they tested the accuracy of the software, no one tried to actively "challeng" the system.

According to KJR, the software that requires users to upload selfies (selfies), sometimes with various facial expressions, is shown to be the most accurate and fast. The methods involving credit cards are considered impractical because most teens don't have them. While the method that asks users to raise their hands in various positions results in overexpansive age estimates.

Interestingly, in one trial, certain products guess the age of Jasmine's colleagues as 42 years old.

"We don't have a clear benchmark about the level of effectiveness. Does it have to be 70%, 80%, or 100% accurate?" saidaya. The government has not set a minimum standard so far.

At Radiant Life College, Queensland, 35 students together with their parents and teachers tried a simple system based on entry on date of birth. According to school principal Nathanael Edwards, some students honestly fill their birth date, but many also fake age, although it doesn't always work.

"It looks like his math tally actually caught some students in the act," he said with a laugh.

With no decision yet on which software will be used, and no follow-up trials scheduled, the decision now rests with the Australian government 'whether they are ready to face teens who are considered 'illegal cards' in this ambitious plan.