Send us a textSocial media can feel like a gladiator arena for adults, let alone kids. We take a clear-eyed look at Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age Act and why it puts the responsibility on platforms to prevent under-16s from creating or keeping accounts. No criminal penalties for parents, no blanket government ID checks—just “reasonable steps” that force companies to build safer systems, document their methods, and accept penalties when they fail.We walk through how age assurance actually works in practice. Think layers: self-declared age and behavioral cues first, AI age estimation only when needed, and verified ID or parental consent as a last resort. That approach aims to cut risk while minimizing data collection, bias, and frustration for adults. We also break down which platforms are affected, which are excluded, and why the risk profile matters. Along the way, we tackle the tough questions: enforceability, potential migration to less regulated services, and what happens when algorithms misclassify near the age boundary.None of this sits in a vacuum. Public trust has eroded after years of economic pressure, scandals, and pandemic hangovers, and that distrust colors how people hear any new policy. We address the fear that this is a slippery slope to surveillance, then point to audit-based oversight, aggregated metrics, and privacy law guardrails designed to prevent it. For families, we offer practical moves—talking with kids, backing up content, preparing for possible deactivations, and considering healthier paths to connection. For platforms, the mandate is to document layered defenses, build appeals for mistakes, and show their systems actually work.If you’re a parent, educator, or just someone who cares about kids’ mental health online, this conversation is for you. Listen, share your perspective, and help us pressure the platforms to do better. If you find value here, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can join the conversation.Support the showThanks for listening! Follow the links below for more! https://www.instagram.com/fitscapades https://patreon.com/fitscapades https://youtube.com/@fitscapades?si=hzhOJ8vjmjz5dAJy TikTok @fitscapades1 twitter/ X fitscapades

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