During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with guest Shane Gillis, the conversation turned to social media censorship and government regulation when discussing Australia’s new social media ban for children under 16.
Rogan and Gillis learned that Australia’s ban includes major platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Threads, Kick, and Twitch. However, Bluesky was notably excluded from the restrictions.
Reacting in disbelief, Rogan questioned the logic behind the exemption. “They created a ban in Australia on social media for kids under 16. This ban includes Instagram and TikTok, but does not include Blue Sky,” Rogan said. “If that’s true, that is crazy. Like up until 16 years old, the only way you get to communicate is the most radically leftist site available.”
When they discovered Bluesky wasn’t included in Australia’s ban, Rogan observed the platform’s reputation. He said, “Blue Sky, I saw this lady… one guy rather… said, ‘I’m trying to be zen about it.’ Like something happened to him. I’m trying to be zen about it. And then this other guy underneath it chimes in, ‘It would be great if you would stop being racist to Asians.'”
Gillis briefly suggested the possibility that the comment was intended as a joke. “Maybe he was being funny,” Gillis offered.
However, Rogan remained unconvinced: “No. There’s no humor over there. There’s no humor. It is a f**king SSRI soup. There’s no humor over there.”
Rogan then expressed his concern about the Australian policy: “So Blue Sky, which is just Twitter, but for super hardcore lefties, is not included in the ban.” He said that Australia’s selective enforcement could unintentionally steer young users toward a single ideological space.
According to Rogam, Australia’s selective social media restrictions effectively funnel young users toward a platform they characterized as having extreme political bias and little tolerance for diverse viewpoints or humor.
