Australian Govt To Impose $50 Million For Flouting Social Media Ban For Children

Australian Govt To Impose $50 Million For Flouting Social Media Ban For Children

It will prevent those under 16 years from accessing X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram

The Parliament of Australia has tabled a new law under which social media companies could be fined $50 million (US$32.5 million) for failing to keep children off their platforms.

The legislation would force firms to prevent children under 16 from accessing platforms such as X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

Australia is among the vanguard of nations trying to clean up social media and the proposed age limit would be among the world's strictest measures aimed at children.

Details about how social media companies are expected to enforce the ban remain unclear. However, the laws would include robust privacy provisions that require tech platforms to delete age-verification information.

Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications said that social media companies were responsible for Australians safety and mental health.

She added, "The legislation places the onus on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protection.”

Some companies, including YouTube, will be granted exemption from the ban, as teenagers may need it for schoolwork. Also, messaging services such as WhatsApp and online gaming would be exempted.

Celebrated as a means of staying connected and informed, social media platforms have been tarnished by cyberbullying, the spread of illegal content, and election-meddling claims.

If the proposed law is passed, tech platforms will be given one year to implement and enforce the ban.

Social media companies have agreed to adhere to the new legislation but cautioned the government against acting hastily and without adequate consultation.

However, analysts doubted the technical feasibility of enforcing a strict age ban.

Katie Maskiell from UNICEF Australia said the proposed legislation would not be a ‘solve-all’ for protecting children and much more needed to be done. She added that the laws risked pushing young people onto "covert and unregulated online spaces."

Meanwhile, several countries have tightened children's access to social media platforms.

Even though the age verification method has yet to be determined, Spain passed a law banning social media access to children under 16. In the US state of Florida, a new law in January will ban children under 14 from opening social media accounts.