Australia is set to enact policy that required social media companies, including TikTok and Instagram, to block under sixteens from holding accounts or face fines of up to $33 million. Joining us now is Terry Floo, professor of Digital Communication and culture at the University of Sydney. Professor, good to see you.So we are going to unpack, I guess, for and against arguments for such a social media ban. But talk to us first how we got here after, what, three decades of mostly an unregulated Internet. I th ...

Core Points - Russia's internet and media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has blocked Snapchat and Roblox, citing their use for "extremist and terrorist" activities [1][2] - The agency claims Snapchat is being used to organize terrorist activities and commit fraud, while Roblox is accused of distributing extremist propaganda and spreading "LGBT information," which is considered extremist under Russian law [2][3] - Roskomnadzor is also imposing restrictions on Apple's FaceTime, alleging it is used for coordinating terrorist activities [3] Company Responses - A spokesperson for Roblox stated the company is committed to safety and actively works to prevent harmful content on its platform [3][4] - Roblox's CEO mentioned that Russia had approximately 2 million active daily users, compared to 11 million in the US [4] Regulatory Context - Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has intensified internet regulation, imposing various restrictions on international social media and messaging platforms, including bans on Signal, WhatsApp, and Instagram [5] - The Kremlin has historically cited extremism and terrorism as reasons for internet restrictions, but now also uses these terms to describe attacks related to Ukraine or anti-Kremlin sentiments [6] Security Incidents - Russia has faced domestic attacks, including a significant incident in March 2024, where a coordinated attack in Moscow resulted in 149 deaths and 609 injuries, claimed by an ISIS branch [7]

Regulatory Landscape - Australia's internet regulator expands social media ban targeting teenagers to include Reddit and Kick [1] - The ban may extend to other platforms primarily facilitating online social interaction [1] - Social media platforms failing to block Australian users under 16 could face fines up to AUD 49.5 million [1] - Australia has implemented what is considered the world's first social media ban for individuals under 16 [1]