CPAC Insider
Who’s Raising Your Kids: You or the State?
What the Social Media Ban Says About Who’s Really in Charge
Christmas is nearly here and everywhere Australian families are gearing up for the big day when they can focus on connection, tradition and what really matters.
For conservatives especially, the holiday season is a reminder of just how important family is - not just for celebrating festive traditions, but as the foundational bedrock of a strong society, and a place where kids learn values like responsibility and respect.
The government’s new ban on social media for under-16’s threatens to undermine that foundation.
The ban has stirred up a lot of debate - and rightly so. The reasoning behind it is to tackle concerns about the negative impact of social media on teenagers, an issue raised by Jonathan Haidt in his book
The Anxious Generation. He argues that platforms like Instagram and TikTok have contributed to rising anxiety and depression in young people. If he is right, that’s a big deal - but is a government ban the way to solve this issue?
Many are asking this question. Can referring to our values help conservatives conclude the role of the state on this and similar issues?
At its core this ban is about who is in the best position to make decisions for kids: parents or the government. Conservative values tell us that it's families - not bureaucrats - who are best placed to make decisions about what’s right for their kids. It’s true that not all families are equipped with these skills, and abuse does happen - but our legal system already deals with these situations. The vast majority of parents can handle decisions around how much social media access their kids get - without the government looking over their shoulders.
That aside, there’s the issue of the unintended consequences of well-meaning policy which we have seen happen only too often. Ronald Reagan nailed it when he joked that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help”—the results can be messy. Indeed the results WILL be messy with the U-16 social media ban.
Let’s also not forget social media isn’t all bad. Communicating via social media is where teens learn, create, and connect in today’s world—whether we like it or not. My children have maintained friendships from previous schools, which would have been difficult without social media.
The ban could push kids into unsafe, unregulated corners of the internet or encourage them to resort to dishonest tactics like lying about their age. How soon before shady characters start offering our kids ways around the ban? How do you feel about that?
Denying access also risks putting them behind in crucial digital literacy and social skills. Instead of banning it outright, shouldn’t we help families teach kids how to use social media responsibly? Shouldn't families learn how to deal with these tools together? Encouraging families to deal with issues and make decisions on social media access is how we preserve the balance between freedom and responsibility—two values conservatives hold dear.
So, what do you think? Does this ban protect kids or erode the family’s role in raising them? Let’s keep this conversation going.
Yours in liberty,
Andrew Cooper
Founder & National Director
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Authorised by Andrew Cooper, Conservative Political Action Network Ltd, 82 Boundary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000