Australia’s “nanny state” government is becoming the first in the world to ban social media for kids under 16. But the REAL plan is much more sinister. It’s designed to police EVERYONE’s use of social media and Australia is just the test country for a global rollout, according to libertarian commentator TOPHER FIELD.
The following summary of the good video above is by The Good Sauce
In the ever-encroaching shadow of Australia’s nanny state, where government overreach masquerades as protection, Damien Coory’s latest episode of The Other Side shines a piercing light on the proposed social media ban for children under 16. As a nation that once prided itself on rugged individualism and parental sovereignty, we’re now witnessing politicians wield the hammer of regulation against families, all in the name of shielding kids from online harms. Coory, with his trademark no-nonsense conservatism, dissects this policy not as a benevolent safeguard but as a sinister grab for control, echoing the timeless warnings of liberty-loving thinkers who knew that trading freedom for security often leaves us with neither. Joined by independent commentator Topher Field, the discussion exposes the ban’s flawed foundations and its potential to erode civil liberties, parental rights, and free speech—issues that should alarm every God-fearing, freedom-valuing Australian.
Coory opens by acknowledging the real dangers of social media: its toxic algorithms that trap users in echo chambers, the scourge of cyberbullying that hampers genuine human interaction, and the link between excessive screen time and skyrocketing rates of depression among youth. He concedes that limits are needed—kids lack the discernment to navigate this digital minefield—but insists this is a job for parents and schools, not Big Brother. Banning devices during school hours and vigilant parenting at home could mitigate much of the damage without inviting government intrusion into private lives. Yet, in 2025 Australia, where liberty is routinely sacrificed on the altar of “safety,” the government presses ahead, barring under-16s from platforms like X, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and even YouTube—though the latter was nearly exempted for educational value.
Field, a documentary filmmaker and host of the Oddcast podcast, dives deeper, smelling a rat in the policy’s design. He argues it’s not about success but creating pretexts for expanded power. Politicians thrive on impossible goals like “keeping children safe online,” which justify bloated bureaucracies, higher taxes, and perpetual intervention. Existing tools—parental controls, ISP filters, and safe search options—already empower families, but the state deems parents incompetent, effectively claiming ownership over children. This shift, Field warns, is manipulative: launching with heart-wrenching stories of bullied kids and suicides to build consensus, then slipping in broader controls.
The conversation turns chilling as they unpack the ban’s mechanics: mandatory age verification via facial recognition or ID for all users, not just kids. This ends online anonymity, crucial for those in restrictive jobs who speak truth without fear. Coory and Field foresee a surveillance state akin to Orwell’s 1984, with device cameras periodically scanning faces to ensure compliance. Kids borrowing parents’ accounts? That loophole will prompt even more invasive checks. Google’s fury, threatening lawsuits, stems from the ban stripping young users of logged-in safeguards, pushing them to unprotected viewing.
Critiquing eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, they highlight her priorities: labeling “misogynistic” or “hateful” content as primary harms, ahead of violence or suicide ideation. This reeks of woke identity politics, enabling subjective censorship. Figures like Jordan Peterson could be deemed harmful, while controversial ones like Andrew Tate become forbidden fruit, attracting teens via rebellion. The policy’s “world-first” boast? A red flag, as Senator Fatima Payman noted—it’s untested because wiser nations reject it.
Ultimately, Coory and Field champion personal responsibility: parents must protect their kids, not outsource to bureaucrats. They decry the weak opposition and urge resistance, noting implications for search engines like Google Maps, forcing ID verification for everyday use.
For a raw, unfiltered take on this assault on freedom, watch the full episode embedded at the top of this post. Damien Coory and Topher Field deliver the analysis Australia needs—without the woke spin. Catch it on YouTube at The Other Side or follow on X at @OtherSideAUS. Subscribe, support the show at othersidetv.com.au, and join the fight for truth in a world gone mad.
