Australia’s social media ban for children triggers mixed reactions

Mixed reactions were witnessed to Australia’s social media ban for children under 16. Australia became the first country to enforce a nationwide ban on social media platforms for those aged under 16. One X user commented, "In order to ban social media in Australia for children under 16 you will need digital ID. Very sly way to roll digital ID."

Another posted, "Banning children under 16 from social media might be a controversial yet necessary move to curb online risks."

Countries like France and some U.S. states have implemented laws requiring parental consent for minors to access social media. Australia’s ban is absolute. In Florida, a complete ban for children under 14 is facing a court challenge over free speech concerns.

This decision follows a passionate national debate and sets a global precedent with one of the strict regulations against big tech companies.

Highlights of the new social media ban law:

- Age verification: Social media platforms must prevent underage users from accessing their services.

- Penalties: Companies that fail to comply with age verification could face huge fines up to 50 million Australian dollars.

- Exemptions: Online gaming platforms like Roblox, messaging platforms like WhatsApp, and health and educational services are exempt from the ban.

This law is passed by the Australian Parliament with an objective to safeguard young people’s mental health and well-being from the dangers. The bill was approved by the Senate on November 28 with a vote of 34 to 19, following an overwhelming unanimous approval by the legislation on Wednesday.

Tech giants including Meta platforms (owner of Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok, are required by the new law to prevent minors from accessing their platforms or are ready to pay fines of up to $32 million. Enforcement trials will begin in January, and a full ban is scheduled to take place within a year. The government will test age verification methods starting in January 2025, with fully implementing it by the end of 2025.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised the responsibility of social media platforms to prioritise children’s safety. He hashed out the risks with excessive social media use, specifically the harmful impacts on girls’ body image and the misogynistic content targeting boys. “Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them," Australian PM Albanese said on Friday.

Social media platforms have got one year to develop ways to implement the ban. Meta platforms have criticised the legislation as  being ‘rushed.’ Social media platform X’s owner Elon Musk, now a prominent figure in Donald Trump’s administration, voiced via X, “Backdoor way to control access to the internet” for all Australians.