Should other countries follow? Australia is bringing in the world’s toughest social media ban, driving under-16s off the apps. Many teenagers are calling it unequal and unfair.
Social media ban begins in Australia
Access denied: Twelve-year-old influencer Ava Jones, from Melbourne, will no longer be able to share her cheering, dancing and modelling posts with her 10,000 followers. Glossary
Addictive - So enjoyable that you do not want to stop.
Guinea pig - A tailless South American rodent. Also a person or thing used as a subject for an experiment.
Snapchat - A multimedia messaging app that allows users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. It is especially popular with teenagers and young adults.
Self-esteem - Belief and confidence in your own value and abilities.
Cocaine - A powerful and illegal stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant. It increases levels of dopamine in the brain, producing intense feelings of euphoria, energy, and alertness — but it is highly addictive and can cause severe physical and psychological harm.
Delayed gratification - The ability to refuse an immediate reward in favour of a later one. Only a small number of species display this behaviour: humans, chimps, parrots, crows and, oddly enough, cuttlefish.
Eating disorders - A range of mental health conditions which result in somebody having abnormal eating patterns, which then affects their physical and mental health.
Grooming - Luring, or persuading.
Cyberbullied - Harassed or bullied by others online, whether through rumours, threats or posting personal information about a victim.
VPN - Virtual Private Network. It allows people to hide their identity online by masking their device's IP address. People can use VPNs to "relocate" themselves and browse the internet from any country.
