The Australian Senate passed a world-first law that bans children under 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram. Platforms could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for failing to prevent underage users from creating accounts. The bill was approved by the Senate with a vote of 34 to 19, following an overwhelming approval by the House of Representatives by 102 votes to 13. The House is expected to endorse amendments made in the Senate, which include bolstered privacy protections.
Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, criticized the legislation, stating that it was rushed. The Digital Industry Group Inc., an advocate for social media platforms in Australia, raised concerns about the impact of the law on children, technical challenges in implementation, and the lack of clarity on what is required of platforms. The platforms will have one year to figure out how to comply with the ban before penalties are enforced. The amendments also prohibit platforms from demanding users to provide government-issued identity documents or digital identification through a government system.
Critics of the legislation are worried that banning young children from social media could have unintended consequences on the privacy of users who must prove they are over 16 years old. While major political parties in Australia support the ban, child welfare and mental health advocates have expressed concerns about the potential negative effects. Sen. David Shoebridge from the minority Greens party raised issues about the rushed nature of the legislation and the lack of clarity on how it will be implemented.
The social media ban for children under 16 in Australia is the first of its kind in the world and has sparked debate about the role of social media in the lives of young people. The law aims to protect children from potential harms associated with using social media platforms at a young age, such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and online predators. The government believes that the ban will help safeguard the well-being of children and ensure a safer online environment for all users.
As the law moves forward, platforms will need to develop strategies to verify the age of users and prevent underage individuals from accessing their services. The implementation of the ban will require collaboration between the government, platforms, and stakeholders to ensure its effectiveness and compliance. The Australian government’s decision to pass this legislation has set a precedent for other countries to consider similar measures to protect children online and regulate the use of social media by minors.
