MELBOURNE, Australia – In a world-first initiative, Australia’s Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, unveiled a landmark law on Thursday aimed at banning children under 16 from accessing social media. The move, which is designed to address the growing concerns around online safety, was introduced into Parliament with the aim of making social media a safer space for younger users.
Rowland explained that platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million USD) if they fail to prevent young children from creating accounts. She emphasized that this bill is about setting a new societal norm, where access to social media is not seen as essential to growing up in Australia.
The law has garnered widespread political support, with Rowland highlighting alarming statistics to underline the necessity of the bill. Government research showed that nearly two-thirds of Australian teens aged 14 to 17 have encountered harmful content online, including material related to drug abuse, suicide, self-harm, and violence. Additionally, one-quarter of this age group has been exposed to content promoting unsafe eating habits.
“There is a growing consensus that something must be done immediately to shield children and young teens from unfiltered and potentially dangerous content online,” Rowland said during her speech in Parliament. “This bill is about safeguarding young people’s health and well-being and providing parents with the reassurance that the government is actively supporting them in addressing online threats.”
However, child welfare and internet experts have raised concerns about the potential consequences of the ban. Some worry that restricting children from social media could isolate 14- and 15-year-olds from their existing online social circles. Despite these concerns, Rowland emphasized that messaging services, online games, and educational platforms would be exempt from the ban.
“We are not ignoring the risks on messaging apps or online games,” Rowland clarified. “However, these platforms don’t curate content with the same algorithms or psychological tactics designed to keep users engaged endlessly.”
The Australian government has also contracted the British company Age Check Certification Scheme to explore new technologies to verify users’ ages, which could play a significant role in enforcing the new law. The government has made it clear that platforms could also face hefty fines if they misuse personal data collected for age verification purposes.
Additionally, the Australian government is also working on measures to prevent children under 18 from accessing online pornography, signaling its commitment to further enhance child protection in the digital landscape.
Despite the bill’s support, some digital advocates, including the Digital Industry Group Inc., argue that the age limit is a “20th century response to 21st century challenges,” questioning its effectiveness in a rapidly evolving digital world.
source: Swifteraadio.com
