The blackout generation: When safety laws turn digital natives into fugitives

Australia’s decision to ban social media for children under 16 has struck parents worldwide like lightning.

- BRIJESH SINGH

For many, our immediate reaction was a fierce, instinctive nod of agreement. We have all watched the light fade from our children’s eyes as they doom-scroll through TikTok feeds. We have fought nightly battles over surrendered phones.We have worried about cyberbullying following them into bedrooms and impossible beauty standards greeting each morning. The notion that governments could simply step in and declare “Enough” feels, for a fleeting moment, like rescue.

Yet when the dust settles and we gaze upon our own children—digital natives who never knew a world without connection—the relief begins to curdle into doubt. Is this truly solution or surrender? Are we building walls to keep them safe, or admitting failure in teaching them how to swim?

Global momentum is undeniable. Australia leads with hard bans, but stands not alone. Malaysia drafts similar laws; Europe debates raising digital consent age; across the United States, from Florida to Utah, states attempt forcing platforms to seek parental permission. Governments’ message rings clear: Big Tech has abdicated responsibility, thus state must step in as ultimate parent.

The dominoes continue falling—Canada considers strict verification systems; Japan explores cultural approaches; Brazil links digital access to educational outcomes. The pattern emerges not by chance but through shared recognition that our children's digital future requires collective stewardship beyond corporate interests or national borders.

Yet watching my teenager navigate their world compels me to ask: Does ban truly solve loneliness, or merely isolate further?