Australia plans social media ban for under-16s

Australia’s government announced Wednesday it will introduce “world-leading” legislation preventing children under 16 years of age from accessing social media platforms such as Facebook. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated this week in parliament that this move aimed at mitigating any damage social media was having on Australian children and mitigating harm it was doing them. “This announcement is for mothers and fathers… like myself, who worry deeply about online safety for our kids. I want Australian families to know that the government stands by them,” said Adler. While many details remain to be decided upon, the government announced that any ban would not apply to young people already active on social media and no exemptions would be made in regards to children who receive permission from their parents. The Australian Government recently unveiled new social media legislation designed to place responsibility on platforms to prove they have taken reasonable measures to restrict access. Communications minister Anthony Albanese stated there would be no penalties imposed upon users, with enforcement left up to Australia’s online regulator (eSafety Commissioner). Once law becomes active 12 months post passage it would undergo review annually thereafter. While experts agree social media can harm adolescents’ mental wellbeing there remains some debate as to its efficacy as an outlawing measure. Some experts contend that bans only delay young people’s exposure to apps like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook rather than teaching them how to navigate these spaces effectively online. Past attempts by governments such as the EU to restrict access have mostly failed or caused backlash among tech firms. Though implementation remains uncertain given tools which bypass age verification requirements, one of Australia’s major advocacy groups for child rights has strongly objected to it as too blunt an instrument for change. In an open letter delivered to the government in October and signed by over 100 academics and 20 civil society organisations, the Australian Child Rights Taskforce urged Albanese to consider adopting “safety standards” on social media platforms instead. The group pointed to UN recommendations regarding national policies designed to regulate online spaces that aim at giving children opportunities and safe access to digital environments. But grassroots campaigners in Australia have also advocated for legislation restricting children’s exposure to harmful content and social pressures such as bullying or misinformation online. They argue that bans would protect kids from dangerous content as well as misinformation, bullying and social pressures that might otherwise put their health or well-being at risk. 36Months Initiative’s petition with over 125,000 signatures asserts that children aren’t yet ready to navigate online social networks safely until at least 16 and excessive social media usage rewires young brains within crucial psychological window, leading to epidemic of mental illnesses. Albanese responded that efforts should be undertaken to educate children on how best to navigate both benefits and risks associated with being online, but such an approach would fall short as it assumes an equal power relationship between users. “Like many others, I find my system sometimes being bombarded by things I wouldn’t want a vulnerable 14-year-old to encounter,” he stated to reporters on Thursday. “These tech companies wield incredible power; apps contain algorithms designed to influence human behaviour.”