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The original was posted on /r/linustechtips by /u/Slippery_gypsy23 on 2024-11-11 17:15:54+00:00.

Possible WAN Show Topic/Orwellian Reality

As a guy in his late 20’s I understand that I grew up in the early internet era, when the “family computer” was a household status symbol and dial-up tones were a daily reality, it taught a lot of us the basics of online caution. We learned the hard way to avoid risky downloads (LiNkIn_PaRk_NuMb.exe lol), the impossibility of “downloading more RAM,” and the importance of privacy online. Parents drilled us on the dangers of sharing personal information, and we understood the consequences: no online gaming or chatting privileges if we didn’t follow the rules.

Now, the Australian government is proposing a bill (with bi-partisan support) that would ban social media for children under 16, requiring everyone to verify their age through government ID before using social platforms. In theory, reducing social media use might help cut back on the attention-grabbing algorithms that dominate today’s internet. But enforcing this through digital IDs raises serious privacy concerns, especially given Australia’s history of major data breaches. This proposal risks inviting even more privacy vulnerabilities while pushing the boundaries of governmental oversight.

The vague definition of “social media” also opens a massive grey area, potentially impacting platforms like YouTube, Reddit, Xbox live, Playstation Network, Steam and Discord—places that foster community, learning, gaming with friends and open conversation. This, combined with rumors of a future “disinformation bill” that would limit news to government-endorsed sources, paints an unsettling picture of potential censorship.

While protecting kids online is crucial, we should be wary of letting government surveillance creep into every digital corner. Educating parents on how to set up and use parental controls on social platforms is a great start, Let’s encourage safe internet habits, but not at the expense of personal freedom and privacy for the masses to protect against lazy parenting.

TLDR: Australians may soon have to validate their identity before using the internet.