“We keep an eye on his social media interactions, like if he’s been in touch with a stranger or not,” Pokharel, who heads a language school in Melbourne, said.
Rahul Pokharel believes social media helps kids like his son to connect with family overseas. Credit: SBS Nepali / Sapana Phuyal (inset) and Pexel / Kampas Production
Still, he is aware social media offers a valuable way to connect across cultures and borders.
“(My son) uses it to remain in touch with family in Nepal and overseas … so I feel we could have done without the ban,” he said.
Because of social media, he is in regular touch with his grandparents and is interested in connecting with cousins overseas. Maybe we should not take that away?
Rahul Pokharel
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the law aims to reduce the harm done to children by such platforms.
Faith Gordon, associate professor at the Australian National University College of Law. Credit: Tom Fearon, ANU
But, media law expert says the ban is a “blunt instrument” and a “knee-jerk policy decision”.
Some also say the change risks further isolating children from migrant communities who may already be struggling for a sense of belonging.
While most children might be using social media as a tool of connection, Khadka urged parents to play a bigger role in monitoring and guiding them.
Shreeyam Sapkota (left), Arya Bhattarai (centre), and Rishan Shrestha (right) are among the “lucky” ones who will escape the social media ban when it comes into effect later this year. Credit: SBS Nepali / Sameer Ghimire
Arya Bhattarai recently turned 16, so she will escape the outlawing.
But Luiz Ghimire won’t be so “lucky”.
Luiz Ghimire thinks the ban is unfair. Credit: SBS Nepali / Sapana Phuyal
For the 10-year-old, the ban is going to affect how she remains connected with family overseas.
“Our parents are not always home, so if we long the need to connect to our grandparents, the ban will unfairly disadvantage us,” she said.
‘A social responsibility’
I said this morning that the criticism that social media will make about our decision and legislation to ban social media for those under 16 is one that we don’t resile from. We will stand up for Australia’s national interests.
Anthony Albanese
“I would rather see children focus more on their studies,” she said.
When using social media, they might come across harmful content and learn from it; obviously, there is good content, too, but there is always a chance of them coming across bad content more often than not.
Anu Koirala, teacher
Koirala, who said her own 13-year-old daughter is “glued” to her mobile, further argued peer pressure is a key driving force leading to social media addiction.
Anu Koirala is a teacher and a mother. Credit: SBS Nepali / Sapana Phuyal (inset) and Pexel / Yan Krukau
Some say the right to classify what is good or bad for children should stay with their parents.
Connected despite distance
He said social media can play a role in helping people stay socially connected despite physical distances.
Dr Anupam Pokharel says the ban will help young people. Credit: Supplied by Anupam Pokharel (inset) and Pexel / Designecologist
However, Dr Pokharel also argued that the ban is a good step in trying to save kids from online bullying.
Likening it to the film and television program classification system, he said, “Viewer discretion, or rather (applying) age discretion, is a good thing (for the moderation of social media access).”
Research has time and again shown pressures originating from social media affect the young mind in differing ways, resulting in psychiatric ailments.
Dr Anupam Pokharel, psychiatrist
This story includes additional reporting from SBS Chinese’s Lihua Luo.