Left to Our Own Devices

About this episode

The episode discusses Australia's upcoming ban on social media for kids and its implications, alongside grassroots efforts in North America to address youth mental health.

On December 10, 2025, Australia will be the first country in the world to ban social media for kids. It's a radical step, and lawmakers around the world are taking notice. In the U.S., eight states have proposed similar legislation. In Canada, Quebec and Nova Scotia are reportedly considering bans of their own. These policies are popular, but they're also controversial – and some experts worry they could isolate a generation of children. But on the other side of the world, a very different story is unfolding. In North America, where governments have yet to regulate social media in any meaningful way, young people are taking matters into their own hands. Young people like Maddie Freeman, who started a grassroots movement to wean her peers off social media after a wave of youth suicides devastated her community. So, as Australia's landmark ban takes effect, only one question remains: will kids figure out how to make social media work for them? Or will governments make that decision for them?

Topics covered

• social media regulation
• youth mental health
• grassroots movements
• government policy
• child safety

Keywords

• social media
• youth
• legislation
• Australia
• Maddie Freeman
• mental health
• government policy

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Australia, U.S., Canada, Quebec, Nova Scotia

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