Australia is taking a strong stance on protecting young people from harmful content on social media. A new bill introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland attempts to ban social media use for minors under the age of 16.
If passed, social media platforms that fail to enforce this ban could face hefty fines.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The Australian government proposed a new law that would require social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and Facebook, to block minors under the age of 16 from accessing their services. If these platforms do not comply, they could be hit with fines of up to $32.3 million USD.
- The bill mandates that platforms take “reasonable steps” to verify and restrict underage access, with severe financial penalties for non-compliance.
- The law does not apply to video games or messaging platforms like WhatsApp and YouTube, which are considered exempt under the new rules.
- A year will be given for platforms to implement age-restriction systems, including a government-backed age-verification process using biometrics and government IDs.
- Despite the potential fines, the government is aware that some minors might still find workarounds, using VPNs to bypass restrictions.
Minister Rowland has stressed that the purpose of the bill is to protect children and help parents ensure their children’s well-being while using social media. She also acknowledged that the bill might not receive universal approval. Prime Minister Albanese noted the bill as a landmark reform — addressing the “social harms” that social media can cause to young users.
While the law’s effectiveness remains to be seen, it posts a clear message to social media companies: take responsibility for safeguarding young users. If not, face substantial consequences (in your wallets).
TF Summary: What’s Next
The bill is expected to pass into law by the end of next month. Following this, platforms will have one year to roll out measures that restrict underage access to their services. The government’s own age-verification system will also be tested in the meantime which also supports a safer digital lifestyle for Australian children. As this bill traverses the legislative highways & byways, it could offer the model for other countries employ for their own regulations.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech