Australia has made history by approving the world’s strictest social media laws. The country has banned children under the age of 16 from accessing platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as a protective measure for young people. This move has been widely supported by parent groups and should address the growing concerns about the harmful effects of social media among children.
Under the new law, tech companies could face fines of up to A$50 million for non-compliance. The ban will take effect in 12 months and will apply to major social media platforms. However, messaging services, gaming platforms, and open-access sites like YouTube are exempt. The government plans to implement age-verification technology to ensure the rule is being followed.
Social media companies will have to develop and implement advanced age verification technologies to ensure no child of age less than 16 could get access to the platform. Some tech companies have already started testing alternative age verification methods including digital ID systems and facial recognition.
Critics argue that children could bypass the restrictions using tools like VPNs. If tech companies use biometric or identity verification, privacy advocates worry about the potential misuse of the data. Some experts warn that the ban is an overly simplistic approach to a complicated issue. They suggest it could drive children to less-regulated online spaces and expose them to even greater risks. Meta and TikTok have already criticized the legislation for being unclear and potentially ineffective.
Australia’s decision is both ambitious and controversial. On one hand, it prioritises children’s mental health and safety over corporate interests. However, it is really challenging to enforce it and it could also have unintended consequences. Simply banning access may not address the root causes of social media’s harmful effects.
Other countries are also taking inspiration from Australia and are planning to bring similar law. Norway and UK have expressed intentions to adopt similar regulations. France and the US state of Utah have attempted to impose age restrictions, but their step faced legal hurdles.
Although social media has become an integral part of daily life., it can pose significant risks that outweigh its benefits. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, leveraging likes, comments, and endless scrolling to keep users engaged For children, constant exposure to curated, idealized images can cause feelings of inadequacy and body image issues. Studies link excessive social media use with heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among young users. Cyberbullying is another major issue that young user face on social media.
Social media lacks strict content moderation. So, children can easily stumble upon violent, explicit, or otherwise harmful material. Exposure to such content can harm their emotional development and desensitize them to important societal norms. Face-to-face interaction is crucial for children to develop social and communication skills Overuse of social media can replace real-world relationships and leads to poor communication skills.
Australia’s social media ban for under-16s highlights the growing recognition of the harms of unregulated online spaces. It will be interesting to see how tech companies and youths react to this.
