The world is watching as Australia experiments with a first-of-its-kind social media ban. The measure took effect earlier this month and is designed to shelter children under 16 from addictive algorithms, online predators and the growing mental health crisis linked to heavy social media use.

Whether Australia’s blanket ban will be successful remains to be seen, but it’s worth a shot.

Parents, educators and health care professionals have been sounding the alarm for years about the toll social media is taking on young people, urging companies to do more to keep kids safe.

Social media, however, isn’t just a problem for teenagers. All of us should be wary of how many hours of screen time we rack up “doomscrolling” on these platforms.

Australia’s ban covers major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Youtube. Under the ban, platforms will need to show they’ve taken “reasonable steps” to deactivate accounts of children under 16 and prevent new accounts from being opened by verifying users’ ages.

Critics argue the government will never be able to keep up. Teenagers don’t want to give up social media and already know how to get around age restrictions. Some will inevitably migrate to newer apps with similar features that aren’t yet banned.

The ban won’t be the only solution, but it’s a start.

The struggle to regulate social media isn’t limited to Australia. A failed effort in Texas this year to restrict minors’ access shows how difficult it has been to turn concerns into action.

While U.S. lawmakers continue to hem and haw over the right strategy, Australia has chosen to test a bold approach rather than wait for a perfect one.

A nationwide ban makes it easier for parents to say no. Many families are uneasy about social media but give in to teenagers’ pleas, fueled by the fear of missing out as social life shifts online.

Rather than leaving each family to set rules on social media, phone use or screen time limits, the ban is an attempt to level the playing field. If fewer teenagers are on social media, the pressure to join or miss out may ease.

The lessons that emerge from Australia’s experiment could help inform a more effective approach to protecting children on social media. In the meantime, continuing to do nothing is no longer an option.

— From Tribune News Service