A former Liberal has slammed Australia's world-first social media ban, questioning why teens can legally fly planes or fire a gun but can't use TikTok, Snapchat or Facebook.
Ex-NSW Liberal whip Peter Phelps, 56, took to X on Friday to criticise the ban, comparing activities under-16's are lawfully permitted to do in NSW with social media sites they won't be allowed to use.
"Things you can do in NSW if you are under 16," he began his post. "Learn to fly an aeroplane; possess and use a firearm; drive at 80kph in a Go-Kart. Captain any non-commercial boat up to 20 knots; Own a speargun for recreational fishing; Abseiling; Scuba diving."
"Join the Australian Army Cadet Corps; Drag racing; Change your sex."
He then listed "things that you now can't do: Twitter/X; Facebook; Instagram; TikTok."
Many other Aussies seemed to agree with his sentiment.
"So you can't use social media to find the Abseiling, Scuba Diving events, but they can still do them? This legislation is unworkable," one woman commented.
"When I was 16, I left my parent's home, got a job, and rented a house. But thank God I couldn't get a social media account," another said.
Some argued children would now have an easier time accessing pornography than social media under the legislation.
"They are also criminally responsible and can go to jail by 10... which in future will be for looking at TikTok no doubt, the way this country is dumbing itself down."
One reader suggested adding running a business, having an ABN, working and paying taxes to the list.
However, not everyone agreed there was any hypocrisy at all, arguing the ban was supporting those activities.
"They used to do all those things plus go out and be active until [the] street lights came on. Then along came Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok," one woman wrote.
"With all those things they are able to do [it] just goes to show that they don't need social media," another said.
Aussie teens won't be able to use platforms like Facebook, X and Snapchat under the new law