Australia Ban Social Media for under-16s
Australia Ban Social Media for under-16s : A recent law enacted by the Australian Senate on Thursday mandates that social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram, may face penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million) if they do not prevent users under the age of 16 from establishing accounts.
Australia has enacted a groundbreaking law prohibiting individuals under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, making it the first nation to implement such a measure, as reported by AP.
The legislation received strong backing from the House of Representatives, which approved it with a vote of 102 in favor and 13 against on Wednesday. The Senate subsequently passed the bill on Thursday with a vote of 34 to 19.
Under this new law, social media companies such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram may incur fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million) if they do not effectively prevent users under 16 from registering for accounts. Notably, this restriction does not extend to YouTube.
While the House has yet to formally approve the amendments proposed by the opposition in the Senate, the government’s prior agreement suggests that this will merely be a procedural step.
With the law now in effect, social media platforms will have a year to devise strategies for enforcing the ban before any penalties are applied.
According to a YouGov poll released on Tuesday, 77 percent of Australians are in favor of the ban, a significant increase from 61 percent in August, as reported by NBC News.
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Australia Ban Social Media for under-16s: Opposition Senator Maria Kovacic defended the bill, stating that it was not radical but necessary. “The core focus of this legislation is simple: It demands that social media companies take reasonable steps to identify and remove underage users from their platforms,” Kovacic told the Senate.
Senator Maria Kovacic further emphasized that social media companies have long neglected their responsibility to protect underage users, prioritizing profit over safety. “This is a responsibility these companies should have been fulfilling long ago, but for too long they have shirked these responsibilities in favor of profit,” she added.
Australia Ban Social Media for under-16s: However, Christopher Stone, executive director of Suicide Prevention Australia, expressed concerns that the legislation overlooked the positive role social media can play in supporting young people’s mental health and sense of connection. “The government is running blindfolded into a brick wall by rushing this legislation. Young Australians deserve evidence-based policies, not decisions made in haste,” Stone said in a statement.
Adding to the controversy, Elon Musk, owner of X, criticized the bill, calling it “a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.”
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has criticized the legislation, describing it as “rushed.”
Australia Ban Social Media for under-16s: However, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the bill, acknowledging the fast pace of technological advancements. He stated, “We all know technology moves fast and some people will try to find ways around these new laws, but that is not a reason to ignore the responsibility that we have.” Source livemint.com
