By Joshua Omoniyi
In a groundbreaking move, the Australian Parliament has approved a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, setting a global precedent with the strictest regulations of their kind. The legislation, which is set to take effect in at least 12 months, could impose fines of up to A$50 million (approximately $32.5 million or £25.7 million) on tech companies that fail to comply.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese championed the bill, emphasizing the need to shield young Australians from the potential "harms" associated with social media. Parent advocacy groups have expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the struggles families face in navigating children's social media use.
Unlike previous attempts at regulating children's access to social media, which often included exemptions for existing users or parental consent, this law establishes a firm minimum age of 16 without such allowances. The bill passed with a vote of 34 to 19 in the Senate and was subsequently approved by the House of Representatives.
“We want our kids to have a childhood and parents to know we have their backs," Albanese stated post-vote.
The specifics of which platforms will be affected remain undecided, to be determined by the Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, who will consult with the eSafety Commissioner. Preliminary statements suggest that popular platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X will be included, while gaming and messaging services, along with sites that do not require account creation, like YouTube, may be exempt.
To enforce the ban, the government plans to employ age-verification technology, with various options slated for testing in the coming months. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the efficacy of this technology, warning that it may compromise privacy and could easily be bypassed using tools like VPNs.
Polling indicates that a majority of Australian parents support the ban, citing the challenges of managing their children's social media exposure. Amy Friedlander, a parent and advocate for the legislation, remarked, “For too long, parents have had this impossible choice between giving in and getting their child an addictive device or seeing their child isolated.”
Despite the support, many experts argue that such a blanket ban may not effectively mitigate the risks of social media use and could inadvertently drive children to less regulated areas of the internet. Companies like Google, Snap, and Meta have criticized the legislation for its ambiguity and potential ineffectiveness.
Youth advocates have also voiced their concerns, suggesting that the government lacks a comprehensive understanding of social media's role in young people's lives. The eSafety Youth Council urged for greater inclusion in discussions surrounding the legislation, advocating for collaborative solutions to address online safety.
Albanese acknowledged the complexities of the issue but remained steadfast in his defense of the bill, likening its implementation to age restrictions on alcohol, which do not eliminate access entirely but aim to protect youth.
As Australia’s laws draw international attention, other countries are considering similar measures. Norway has pledged to follow suit, and the UK government has indicated that a comparable ban is "on the table," though immediate action is not anticipated.
The debate surrounding social media's impact on youth continues to evolve, with Australia at the forefront of a contentious issue that resonates worldwide.
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