Australia has put regulations restricting kids under 16 from using social media, and refraining from doing so will result in a fine of AUS$50 million (US$32.5m).
Australian Parliament has passed the strictest regulation targeting social media platforms in the world.
The regulation restricts kids under 16 from using social media, and refraining from doing so will result in a fine of AUS$50 million (US$32.5m).
According to recent polls, some opposed the bill, and 77% of the public was on the side of banning social media for children under 16.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the law would protect young children since it is a platform that causes peer pressure, anxiety, and scamming and creates an instrument for online predators.
It is unclear how the government will implement the new regulation and whether the law will force all Australians to provide more personal information. However, the government has promised to provide privacy protections for the additional information and prohibit social media companies from using it for other purposes.
Michelle Rowland introduced the law prohibiting all social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and X.
But, it does not apply to messaging services like WhatsApp, internet services like Kids Helpline, or apps used for educational purposes like YouTube or Google Classroom.
The bill wants to ban under 16 from having accounts on online platforms, but they can still watch videos on YouTube without having an account.
According to the explanatory memorandum, one exception is that they can view if the business or service directs their product onto the landing page on a social media platform.
Social media is an online platform for entertainment, education, or a source to connect with the world. But there are things beyond them, like young kids, especially 14 or 15, who see online videos related to drugs, suicide, or violent content. Some even encounter online bullying, body image issues, harmful content, misogynistic content, and many more.
The minister continues by stating the findings from eSafety Commission research, stating that parents found that the biggest challenge was online safety for young children using social media platforms.
The memorandum, noting the worldwide research and discussion, states that there is no particular age at which children can safely use social media, but the Australian age of 16 was agreed widely after many local consultations.
According to the bill, the revisions will impose a duty on the providers of age-restricted social media platforms to take measures to prevent age-restricted users from creating an account on the platform.
The platforms should implement procedures and systems to ensure that users under the legal age limit are unable to create an account.
A fine is not imposed on online platforms when a few individuals get through the systems to open an account, but when several users evade the regulations, they are subject to a new penalty of $50 million.
However, the bill is intentionally vague on implementing these regulations.
The reasonable test steps are assessed based on the cost of implementing the technology, technology availability, and the data implications for users.
The government is still testing the age assurance trial, a program meant to find options for age assurance technology.
It is still a mystery, but the government says it will evolve as technology evolves.
The government might be required to collect additional personal data to follow the age assurance framework.
It would require robust privacy protection, including prohibiting social media platforms from using the information for any other purpose.
If privacy laws are repeatedly breached, then they have to pay a fine of over $50 million under the Privacy Act.
As with every law, it is a reality that some people might slip through the cracks to get away with the ban on creating an account.
The government said that parents have the power to inform them that it is illegal for them to use.
