HomeLearnQuizHabitsSafetyInsightsSessionsAboutSign-in
CYBERPSYCHOLOGY

Screen Sense

Cyberpsychology | Digital Wellbeing
ContactAboutQuizCoachingArticlesTypesHome
Close
HomeLearnQuizHabitsSafetyInsightsSessionsAboutContact
Back to Articles
March 9, 2026
News

Australians must prove they are over 18 to access porn under new laws

A

ustralians must prove they are over 18 before they can access adult content such as porn, R-rated video games and sexually explicit AI chatbots under new laws.

The changes will protect children from harmful content, with platforms fined for breaches, Australia's online safety regulator said.

"We don't allow children to walk into bars or bottle shops, adult stores or casinos, but when it comes to online spaces... there are no such safeguards," its commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.

Experts say the new laws - which come three months after Australia introduced an under-16s social media ban - will face similar concerns over data privacy and users trying to trick age-verification technologies.

In Australia, as in many countries, users visiting adult sites are usually asked to verify their age by clicking on a box that says they are over 18.

But the new changes mean platforms must introduce stricter age-verification checks from Monday.

This can include facial recognition technology, digital IDs and credit card details.

Read the full article on BBC.

You might Also Like

Science

Impact of internet addiction on mental health: an integrative therapy is needed

In the past few years internet addiction (IA) and internet gaming disorder (IGD) have become very frequent, leading to many personality and psychiatric disorders including low self-esteem, impulsivity, poor sleep quality, mood disorder, and suicide. IA has been included in Appendix III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as IGD. In addition, IA leads to many neuroanatomical and neurochemical alterations including cortical thinning of various components of the brain and altered dopaminergic reward circuitry.

Read More
Read

Dopamine Nation by Dr Anna Lembke

In Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain . . . and what to do about it.

Read More
Science

Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiology of internet addiction

The field of internet addiction has experienced significant debates on conflicting epidemiology. This meta-analysis investigated the prevalence rates of generalized internet addiction (GIA) and internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Read More
Seeking support for your digital wellbeing?

Screen Sense Sessions

Screen Sense offers personalised one-to-one support to help you better understand your digital habits and make practical, lasting changes to the way you use technology.

Sessions >
About us

Understand digital wellbeing through cyberpsychology. Screen Sense explores the psychology behind gaming, social media and digital technology through evidence-based articles, courses and practical insights for adults and young people (16+).

Navigation
HomeLearnQuizHabitsSafetyInsightsSessionsAbout
Contacts
Based in New Zealand
[email protected]
+64 27 707 1467
CONTACT us
Send Message
Copyright Screen Sense Limited 2026
Cyberpsychology | Digital Wellbeing