#DigitalRights | Manushya Foundation’s stance on banning young people from digital spaces is clear and unwavering: NO. ‼️

Australia just became the first country to ban anyone under 16 from social media and call it “protection” 🚨 What it really is? A global green light for surveillance disguised as child safety.

The passage of the bill marks a dark, repressive shift in digital rights across the world. Southeast Asia, WATCH OUT: the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore are next (and we’re monitoring closely).

‼️ Manushya Foundation’s stance on banning young people from digital spaces is clear and unwavering: NO. ‼️ Age Gating doesn’t protect young people, it punishes them.

Age Gating is a flawed policy that:

🅧 Normalises surveillance technology which age verification relies on

🅧 Further isolates and excludes marginalised youth

🅧 Represses youth-led rights movements

🅧 Shields those truly responsible from accountability

As our founder Emilie Pradichit said at #DRAPAC2025, “Child safety must not come at the cost of rights. The real responsibility lies with governments and platforms who create the risks and profit from them.”

Manushya says NO to age gating — today, tomorrow, always. 🧡✊🏽

Young people deserve rights and access to political power & spaces, not surveillance.

👉 Read our full statement on Age Gating here: bit.ly/ManushyaOnAgeGating