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Australia's Landmark Bill to Ban Under-16s from Social Media

Nov 27, 2024 at 5:03 PM

Australia's House of Representatives has made a significant move by passing a bill that aims to restrict children younger than 16 years old from using social media. This decision has sparked a heated debate and drawn attention from around the world. On Wednesday, the legislation was passed, making platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, and X liable for hefty fines in case of systemic failures to prevent young children from having social media accounts. The Senate is expected to approve the bill on Thursday, finalizing the world's first law governing kids' internet habits. If enacted this week, social media platforms will have one year to figure out how to implement age restrictions before the penalties come into effect. Australia is planning to test an age-verification system that may involve biometrics or government identification to enforce a strict social media age cut-off. This is the highest age limit set by any country, with no exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasizes that this is a landmark reform, acknowledging that some kids may find ways around it but sending a clear message to social media companies to improve their practices. This week, Meta and Google have urged the Australian government to delay passing the legislation until a trial of age-assurance technology is completed, claiming that more time is needed to assess its potential impact. Meta states that in the absence of such results, neither industry nor Australians will understand the nature and scale of age assurance required by the bill or its impact. Meanwhile, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has expressed concerns about the lack of clarity in the bill and the government's decision to pass it without detailed consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organizations, and young people. TikTok argues that when novel policies are proposed, legislation should be drafted thoroughly and carefully to ensure it achieves its intended purpose, which has not been the case with this bill. Australia's new legislation comes just a month after 13 U.S. states sued TikTok over claims that the video app is addictive to kids and harms their mental health. The implications of this bill are far-reaching and will likely have a significant impact on the social media landscape and the lives of young Australians. It remains to be seen how social media platforms will adapt and comply with the new regulations.

Australia Takes Bold Step to Protect Youngsters from Social Media

Impact on Social Media Platforms

The passing of this bill will have a profound impact on social media platforms. They will now be held accountable for failing to prevent under-16s from using their services. This means that platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook will need to invest heavily in developing and implementing age verification systems. Biometrics and government identification may become the norm, making it more difficult for young children to create accounts. The liability for fines of up to $33 million (50 million Australian dollars) will act as a strong deterrent for platforms that do not take adequate measures to protect young users. This could lead to significant changes in the way social media platforms operate and interact with their users.

Moreover, the one-year grace period given to platforms to implement the age restrictions will force them to quickly assess their existing user bases and take appropriate actions. This may involve removing or restricting access for under-16s who already have accounts or implementing stricter controls on new account creations. Social media platforms will need to balance the need to protect young users with the desire to maintain their user base and revenue. It will be a challenging task for them, but one that is necessary to comply with the new law.

Reactions from Tech Giants

Meta and Google's calls for a delay in passing the bill highlight the complexity and potential challenges associated with implementing such regulations. These tech giants argue that more time is needed to assess the impact of age-assurance technology and ensure that it is effective in preventing under-16s from using social media. They believe that without proper testing and evaluation, the bill may have unintended consequences and could harm the industry and users alike.

ByteDance's concerns about the lack of clarity and consultation in the bill also reflect the need for a more comprehensive and collaborative approach. TikTok's statement emphasizes the importance of drafting legislation in a thorough and considered way to ensure its effectiveness. This suggests that there is a need for further dialogue and cooperation between the government, social media platforms, and other stakeholders to address the complex issues surrounding kids' internet habits.

International Implications

Australia's decision to set the highest age limit for social media use and impose tough controls has set a precedent for other countries. Other nations may look to Australia as a model and consider implementing similar regulations. This could lead to a global shift in the way social media is regulated and controlled, with a greater emphasis on protecting the well-being of young users.

The lawsuit by 13 U.S. states against TikTok also highlights the growing concern about the impact of social media on children's mental health. Australia's new legislation adds to the growing body of evidence that social media can have a negative effect on young people and that measures need to be taken to protect them. This could lead to increased international scrutiny and pressure on social media platforms to address these issues.