Australia is taking a major step by banning children under 16 from using social media, making it the strictest law in the world. The draft law has passed the Senate and is expected to pass to the House of Representatives, to be approved as law. While the government argues that this law is necessary to protect children from the harmful effects of social media, the move has been met with both support and opposition.
Key Points:
Age Limit: The ban applies to all children under 16, with no exceptions for those who already use social media or have parental consent.
Penalties for Technology Companies: Companies that do not comply with age restrictions can face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars.
Platforms : The legislation does not specify which social media platforms will be banned, but sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are likely to be affected. Platforms like YouTube, which can be accessed without creating an account, as well as messaging and gaming apps are exempt from this law.
Implementation Mechanism: The government plans to rely on age verification technology, which may include biometric methods or other identity checks. However, experts have concerns about the effectiveness and privacy implications of this technology.
Description of VPNs: Critics argue that children can bypass the ban by using tools like VPNs to hide their location, making the law ineffective.
Pros and Cons:
Pros : Many parents and child advocacy groups in Australia see the law as a necessary step to protect children from online harm such as bullying, addiction and exposure to inappropriate content.
Cons : Some experts consider the ban too simplistic a solution to a very complex issue.
Critics say the ban could push children to other unregulated online spaces or force them to use risky strategies to circumvent the rules.
Social media companies such as Google, Snap and Meta have criticized the lack of clarity in the bill, saying the law will likely be ineffective in achieving its goals.
Youth advocates also argue that they should be more involved in the discussion about online safety, as they better understand the risk and can contribute to the development of better solutions.
Global Context:
France and Utah have adopted similar measures, but both have faced difficulties. In France, a large number of children were able to bypass the ban by using VPNs. In Utah, a federal judge declared a similar law unconstitutional.
Norway and the United Kingdom have expressed interest in following in Australia's footsteps, with some leaders mentioning the possibility of introducing similar bans in their countries.
