Australia moves to ban social media for under 16’s
Make it stand out
In this week’s social news, we look at the Australian government who are taking a bold and controversial step to ban social media for Under-16s .
In a significant move that has sparked support and concern, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed a social media ban for children under the age of 16.
In doing so, the country has a world first. The proposed legislation, described as "momentous" by experts, seeks to address rising concerns over the impact of social media on minors.
The law will enforce a strict age verification system, prohibiting access even with parental consent. The ban is expected to trial age-verification systems to block children from accessing social media sites including Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Bytedance’s TikTok, and Elon Musk’s X.
However as expected there has been backlash form more than 140 Australian and international academics with expertise in technology and child welfare. This group has signed an open letter to Albanese last month opposing a social media age limit as “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.”
If passed, this policy would make Australia one of the strictest countries globally in terms of regulating social media use among youth. The legislation could be enacted within a year of parliamentary approval, marking a decisive step in digital safety.
Australian authorities aim to mitigate these risks by reducing minors' exposure to potentially harmful online content and interactions. The Australian law would see social media platforms held entirely responsible for preventing access to children.
Australia's move is part of a broader global trend where governments are increasingly scrutinising the role of social media in young people's lives.
The proposed age verification system will likely involve robust technological measures to ensure compliance, setting a new standard for digital safety regulations worldwide.
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/australia-social-media-minimum-age
