Australia Has Barred Everyone Under 16 From Social Media. Will It Work?
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/
Australia has passed a world-first law banning children under 16 from having accounts on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram. The law imposes fines of up to $33 million (A$50 million) on platforms that fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts.
The Senate passed the bill with a 34-19 vote, and the House of Representatives approved it 102-13. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the law supports parents concerned about online harms. Platforms have one year to implement the ban before penalties are enforced. Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) criticized the legislation as being rushed.
The Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI) has raised concerns about the Australian social media ban legislation, questioning its impact on children, technical aspects, and overall scope. DIGI’s managing director, Sunita Bose, criticized the rushed passage of the law, noting that both platforms and the public are uncertain about how it will work in practice.
Amendments to the law have strengthened privacy protections, preventing platforms from requiring users to submit government-issued ID or use digital identification systems. However, critics worry that the ban could infringe on user privacy and raise concerns among child welfare and mental health advocates about unintended consequences.
Sen. David Shoebridge of the Greens party expressed concern that the social media ban could harm vulnerable children, particularly those in regional areas or from the LGBTQI community, by cutting them off from crucial support networks. The law includes exemptions for health and education services, such as YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, and Google Classroom.
Opposition Sen. Maria Kovacic argued that the law is necessary to force social media companies to take responsibility for identifying and removing underage users, a duty she believes they have neglected for too long. Online safety advocate Sonya Ryan, whose daughter was murdered by a pedophile online, called the Senate vote a “monumental moment” for protecting children from online harm.
Sonya Ryan, whose daughter Carly was murdered by an online predator, expressed support for the social media ban, emphasizing that while it’s too late for her daughter, it can protect others. Wayne Holdsworth, whose son Mac died after falling victim to an online scam, also supported the legislation, feeling pride in its passage. However, Christopher Stone from Suicide Prevention Australia criticized the law for ignoring the positive aspects of social media in supporting young people’s mental health and connection, calling the legislation rushed.
Social media platforms, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Snapchat, expressed concerns about the law’s practicality and implementation, particularly the rushed process and lack of sufficient evidence. They committed to working with the government during the 12-month implementation period.
Critics argue that the law is a politically motivated move ahead of the upcoming election, aimed at reassuring parents. They contend that it could cause more harm than good by isolating children, limiting access to the positive aspects of social media, and pushing them toward the dark web. Additionally, the law could undermine privacy, parental authority, and platforms’ incentives to improve online safety.
Image Source: https://www.yahoo.com/
