In Australia, children under 16 are no longer allowed on certain social media apps. We’re following these developments with great interest! Does this mean kids ‘down under’ are now safer and better off? Going online is much more than just snapping on Snapchat. If they want to, kids will always find workarounds—through other apps and devices. So, how can parents take back control? We’ve put together the key steps for you.
Workarounds and (shady) apps
Age verification? No problem for smart kids: with VPNs, fake birth dates, and even intercepted parent IDs, they bypass these barriers. Even without going to these lengths, all kinds of alternatives sneak in through the back door—like Discord, Yope, or Coverstar. And when one platform ends up on the blacklist, a new one pops up—often even less regulated.
Other devices
No smartphone? No problem. On (school) laptops, kids chat via Google Docs, Drive, or Teams. On tablets, they watch YouTube and TikTok content through the browser. And on game consoles, they can (voice) chat in Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft. Interaction simply shifts to less visible channels.
Sounds ominous? It pretty much is. But here’s the good news: once you’re aware of it, you can do something about it:
- Explain why age limits exist and why they can better avoid certain apps
- Indicate what is allowed; which apps are okay and make agreements about how, what and when
- Talk about privacy and data: what happens to your information?
- Set up parental controls, including alerts for VPN installation
- Use strong passwords—on all devices
- Agree on no devices in the bedroom
- Have open conversations about your child’s online world, including gaming and chatting
- Read the step-by-step guide for all actions you can take!
