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0Erinome: Hello everyone! Today we are going to talk about a topic that many parents care about: young people and social media. You know, winter vacation is here, and lots of parents are worried, right?
Enceladus: Oh yes! I heard many families have "phone battles" now. Kids stay up late using phones, and parents can't sleep because of that. It's really tough.
Erinome: Exactly! But do you know? Australia did something big about this. They made a law to stop kids under 16 from using social media. Wow, that's a big step!
Enceladus: Really? When did that start?
Erinome: It started on December 10, 2025. The law is called *2024 Cybersecurity (Social Media Minimum Age) Amendment*. So platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook can't let kids under 16 sign up. Even if parents say yes, it's not allowed.
Enceladus: Oh, so the platforms are responsible? What happens if they don't follow?
Erinome: They can get a big fine! Up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, which is about 230 million yuan. That's a lot of money! By January 2026, they already handled over 4.7 million accounts—stopping or deleting them.
Enceladus: Sad, but maybe necessary? Because social media has bad things, like cyberbullying or wrong information. Kids are easy to get hurt.
Erinome: Right! The article said "childhood harm毁掉 a child's whole life". If many kids are hurt, it's bad for the country. So Australia thinks kids' health is more important than money.
Enceladus: Are other countries doing this too?
Erinome: Yes! Malaysia will start in 2026, banning under 16s. Denmark is planning to stop under 15s. Even the US and Europe are talking about it.
Enceladus: What about China? Do we have rules?
Erinome: We have the *Minors' Network Protection Regulations* since 2024. It says platforms can't sell adult accounts to kids. But some experts think we need stricter rules. Like Chen Weizhi, a政协委员, he suggests limiting under 16s too.
Enceladus: But some people might disagree, right? Like, is "ban" the best way?
Erinome: Good question! A teacher in Australia said some kids with autism made friends online. Social media helped them. If we ban it, maybe they lose that.
Enceladus: Oh no! So it's not all bad. What do students think?
Erinome: A student named Li Xinyi said kids should learn to protect themselves, not just be banned. Like, learn to tell good info from bad, and control time.
Enceladus: That makes sense. So maybe "ban" is not enough. What else can we do?
Erinome: Experts say "both protect and help". Schools can teach network skills—like how to keep personal info safe. Parents can make "family rules" for phone time. Platforms can make better "teen modes" with good content.
Enceladus: Oh right! Like, not just block, but guide. My cousin uses a "teen mode" on TikTok, and it shows science videos instead of games. He likes that!
Erinome: That's great! So it's a team work—government, schools, parents, and platforms. Not just one side.
Enceladus: But some kids might still find ways, like using adult accounts. How to stop that?
Erinome: The article said platforms need better age checks—like face or voice verification. And punish those who sell adult accounts.
Enceladus: It sounds hard, but important. Kids need a safe online world, but also learn to use it well.
Erinome: Exactly! Childhood is precious. We need to protect it, but also help kids grow in the digital age.
Enceladus: Well, I hope more countries find good ways. For now, maybe parents can talk with kids more, not just take phones away.
Erinome: You’re right! Okay, that's it for today. Let's hope all kids have a happy and safe winter vacation. See you next time!
Enceladus: Bye everyone!
