admin
One of the most extensive policies in the world to protect children from possible risks on the internet is Australia’s blanket prohibition on social media for kids under the age of sixteen.
However, there were still a lot of unanswered questions, such what platforms would be covered and how it would be implemented.
With bipartisan support, the law cleared the Senate on Thursday after easily passing the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday.
According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, it places Australia at the forefront of initiatives to shield kids’ mental health and wellbeing from the negative impacts of social media, such cyberbullying and hatred.
According to him, the legislation requires social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under the age of sixteen from creating accounts.
For “systemic” failures to enforce age limits, corporations might face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, or over $32 million.
If a minor violates the rules, neither they nor their parents will be punished. Mr. Albanese said that it doesn’t matter if kids figure out how to get around the limitations.
In a statement last month, he added, “We’re sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act, but we know some kids will find workarounds.”
Similar to laws governing alcohol and tobacco in many nations, the new legislation will establish a new class of “age-restricted social media platforms” that are only available to those who are 16 years of age or older.
However, it’s unclear how that digital carding will take place. The conservative opposition claimed that the regulation was included in response to their worries over privacy rights since.
It states that users would not be required to provide official identity as part of the verification procedure.
Furthermore, it’s unclear precisely which platforms will be prohibited. According to the prime minister.
YouTube and messaging apps like WhatsApp are anticipated to be excluded, while Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and X will be permitted.
A legislation mandating parental approval for social media users under the age of 15 was approved in France last year, and the country has been advocating for similar policies across the European Union.
This year, Florida banned users under the age of 14 and needed parental approval for those who were 14 or 15 years old. However, the rule may be challenged on constitutional grounds.
17-year-old Leo Puglisi, the owner of the news website 6 News, which employs mostly teenagers, expressed his complete faith that his 14-year-old brother will find a way to get over any restrictions.
According to him, social media is an essential component of modern life. He acknowledged that it may be harmful, but he and his peers use it to connect with groups of individuals who share their interests, he added.
He said that a complete prohibition would not significantly lessen the risks associated with the sites. There will be no removal of any dangerous information.
He remarked, “It just throws you into the deep end at 16 and kicks the can down the road.” “On paper, it might sound good, but in practice, it’s not feasible.”
However, Dany Elachi, a parent of five kids ranging in age from seven to fifteen, said that the regulation will contribute to a shift in social media use patterns.
Many parents who are worried about its negative consequences feel compelled to allow their kids to use it in order to keep them from feeling excluded.
Mr. Elachi, co-founder of the Heads Up Alliance, a group of parents attempting to limit their kids’ use of social media and cellphones, said.
“What puts parents under a lot of pressure is when you think your child might be isolated.” “No one misses out if everyone does.”
North Sydney’s independent representative, Kylea Tink, called the measure a “blunt instrument” during Tuesday’s lower house discussion.
According to her, the legislation would not make social media corporations responsible for the security of the products they provide.
“They’re telling our kids there won’t be any cars, but they’re not fixing the potholes,” she added.
Stephen Bates of the Australian Greens party brought up his experience as a 13-year-old who was hooked to the computer game “The Sims” at the same discussion.
He remembered that his father had set up a software that would cause his computer to go down on its own after an hour.
Mr. Bates, who is now a 32-year-old legislator, said, “It took me 10 minutes to figure out how to get around that.”
As the youngest member of this chamber and one of the very few individuals in this room who grew up with social media and technology, I can state that although change is necessary, this law is not it.
The regulation was just approved, and social media businesses now have a year to comply. Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, will be responsible for figuring out the specifics of its implementation.
She said that previous attempts to restrict minors’ access to gambling websites and pornography had led to a fast advancement in the technology behind age verification.
To test them, the Australian government has commissioned an experiment. She expressed her confidence that computer titans will find a way to comply in an interview.
“They have some of the best brainpower, financial resources, and technologies,” she remarked. “They can use the same technology and expertise to identify and confirm a child’s age if they can target you for advertising.”