Experts Question Whether Social Media Bans for Teens Actually Work

Debate is growing over the real-world effectiveness of social media bans targeting minors, with Australia's recent restrictions drawing particular scrutiny. Critics argue that if teenagers continue accessing platforms despite legal prohibitions, the bans may achieve little beyond creating a false sense of protection. The discussion also touches on broader questions around enforcement and whether platforms or governments can realistically police underage usage. Alongside this, conversations about artificial intelligence consciousness and its implications are gaining traction among technologists and ethicists. Together, these topics reflect mounting uncertainty about how society should regulate both social media and rapidly advancing AI systems.