Australia's under-16 social media ban cuts screen time but teens bypass it

Since December, a 16-year-old's daily screen time fell from up to 10 hours to three or four hours. But he easily created fake accounts and bypassed the ban entirely without needing ID.

Why it mattersThe ban shows real impact on usage habits. But it exposes a major weakness: without proper ID checks, determined teens can get around it entirely.

AustraliaAustralia's landmark social media ban is working to reduce teen screen time but its effectiveness depends on platforms properly verifying age, which they are not yet doing.

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✓ ABC NewsPower & Policy

Edge Early Learning closes second Canberra centre after regulator suspension

Edge Early Learning permanently closed its Charnwood childcare centre in Canberra after regulators suspended it for three months over safety.

Why it mattersThis shows serious safety risks in childcare. It also shows the dangers when childcare centres have high staff turnover and cannot keep experienced staff.

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✓ The Guardian AustraliaPower & Policy

Mistaken-identity shootings kill two in Sydney as gangs recruit

Two people were shot dead in Sydney in suspected mistaken-identity killings within two days. Police say this is part of a pattern: as many as six such shootings since the start of last year.