Australia Kicks Kids Off Social Media + Is the A.I. Water Issue Fake? + Hard Fork Wrapped
December 12, 2025
AI Summary
5 min read🎙️ The Voices & The Context
- The Format: This episode is a lively host discussion with segments that blend humor and serious analysis, showcasing the chemistry between the hosts as they explore current tech topics.
- The Key Players:
- Kevin Roose: Tech columnist at the New York Times, known for his insightful perspectives on technology and its societal impact.
- Casey Newton: Founder of Platformer and a respected voice in tech journalism, known for engaging in critical conversations about technology and its implications.
🗝️ Key Themes & Topics
- Social Media Regulations: The episode delves into Australia’s recent law banning children under 16 from social media platforms, marking a significant step in regulating tech use among minors.
- AI and Environmental Impact: A guest segment featuring Andy Mazley addresses the misconceptions surrounding AI’s water usage and its environmental footprint, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of the issue.
- Corporate Accountability: The hosts discuss their interview with Roblox CEO David Baszucki, exploring the accountability of tech leaders regarding user safety, particularly for children.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Kevin Roos & Casey Newton**
- 2 (00:10) **Tesla License Plate Story**
- 3 (02:14) **Australia Bans Children Under 16 from Social Networks**
- 4 (04:18) **Historical Context of Social Media Regulations**
- 5 (05:08) **Australian Reactions to the Law**
- 6 (06:53) **Details of the Australian Law**
- 7 (08:39) **Exemptions and Critiques of the Law**
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
This week, Australia implemented the most aggressive social media ban in a democracy to date, kicking children under 16 off 10 of the most popular social platforms. We discuss how the platforms lost the argument around child safety and whether others will follow Australia’s lead. Then, the blogger Andy Masley joins us to separate fact from fiction on the topic of A.I. water use. Is it a distraction from other more pressing environmental concerns? And finally, our first-ever “Hard Fork” Wrapped: We break down our favorite “Hard Fork” stats from 2025 and bring you up to date on three of our biggest stories of the year.
Guests:
- Andy Masley, blogger The Weird Turn Pro
Additional Reading:
- A Grand Social Media Experiment Begins in Australia
- The A.I. water issue is fake
- Why Is Everyone So Wrong About A.I. Water Use?
- Trump Signs Executive Order to Neuter State A.I. Laws
- Trump Clears Sale of More Powerful Nvidia A.I. Chips to China
- We Asked Roblox’s C.E.O. About Child Safety. It Got Tense.
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