Peter Dutton wants a social media ban for children. But would ‘real life’ rules work?

Peter Dutton says advances in technology would prevent teens from using VPNs to get around any social media ban. Photograph: Elva Etienne/Getty Images

Both the federal government and opposition say they are on board with the idea to ban teenagers under 16 from using social media, but the prime minister set an important qualifier on Thursday when he said he would support such a ban “if it can be effective”.

Guardian Essential poll last week found two-thirds of voters were in favour of raising the age teenagers can access social media from the 13 that the companies have set themselves up to 16.