Effective December 10, 2024, social media companies in Australia will be required to implement measures preventing users under the age of 16 from creating accounts on their platforms. Additionally, existing accounts belonging to minors must be deactivated or removed. This legislation, described as a world-first, aims to reduce the risks and pressures children face on social media, as highlighted by studies indicating that 96% of children aged 10-15 use such platforms, with many encountering harmful content.
The Australian government has specified ten platforms affected by this ban, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. There are discussions around possibly extending the ban to online gaming platforms, prompting some, like Roblox and Discord, to introduce age verification features.
Social media companies will bear the responsibility of enforcing this policy and could face fines up to AUD 49.5 million for serious violations. Companies must employ age verification technologies, but the specifics have not been firmly established. The government encourages using multiple methods beyond user declarations or parental vouching, involving identification processes or AI-based age estimation.
Concerns have emerged regarding the potential effectiveness of these age assurance technologies, with feedback suggesting that they may inaccurately block users or fail to identify underage individuals. Critics also raise questions about the adequacy of penalties, as fines might not deter larger corporations effectively.
Critiques of the ban note the necessity for children to engage socially, suggesting that educating young people about navigating online platforms could be more beneficial than an outright ban. Furthermore, there are apprehensions about privacy and data protection related to the age verification processes.
This approach has gathered attention internationally, as it is the first of its kind, and other countries, including the UK and France, are observing Australia’s initiative closely.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyp9d3ddqyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss