Both the UK & AU have passed legislation in which they aim to “ban” social media for kids -16 (or that’s the excuse they’re using) when its the catalyst for mass surveillance (unfortunately, even if you tell them the truth: it’s either people including your own family consider you paranoid or a conspiracy theorist). To avoid that, one must gather sufficient evidence debunking or dispelling the lies being shoved into the masses via media.
The common defense for this is “think of the children” from either lazy parents or Christian conservatives as that’s the easiest lie ever told besides social media or internet usage (you heard that from games, movies or music restrictions in the past). IMO, “banning” SM outright or trying to reinforce AV towards everyone creates more hassle for both sides (users and companies) as SM companies can face large fines for non-compliance.
If you look at the larger picture: it treads on one’s liberties such as freedom of speech & expression as what appears to be “no SM for -16” soon morphs into a 1984-esque dystopia where people will be detained for speaking their mind or the truth. This is what digital privacy advocates fear, basically saying that internet anonymity will cease or be deemed illegal if people lack critical thinking or can’t see through the fog.
Even though the laws have passed in both countries: it does nothing as people (kids and adults) can still access SM. They know VPN’s exist, banning or trying to lock that under AV will make them look stupid. SM is toxic due to the slop and demographic, but IMO should remain up to the individuals or families rather than the government (all MSM side with the state using “no SM for -16” omitting mass surveillance in the headlines).
Others have correctly assessed the purpose of the ban. I would add that if you really wanted to help alleviate the social ills of SM, you would have to end corporate involvement with social media at all. Corporatism is just a more palatable form of fascism really, you can’t let profits dictate society and culture.
I would also, while I’m dreaming, say that governments should not run social media, and all SM should exist purely as non-commercial activities run by private parties. Like Lemmy. Any government is going to have just as perverse a motive in content moderation and policies as a corporation, and it’s too hard to prevent ideological bias from creeping in.
If SM should exist at all (I’m not 100p on that one myself), it should be fully formed by communities and private people, without permission, and without money or power politics added in.
I dunno about realistic ideas. This is in my wildest dreams.