Young Australians to Be Left Out from Social Media

Australian politicians approved the first ban on children using social media. It is the nation’s latest step to address concerns over the impact of the services on younger users.

Politicians are yet to iron out some kinks in their plan to prevent users under 16 years from accessing social media sites, though ABC News and other outlets reported these would be addressed in subsequent parliamentary meetings. The legislation is expected to come into force in around 12 months.

This responsibility is not unexpected given politicians have quizzed social media companies on how they verify the age of users and implement existing restrictions, typically on those aged less than 13 years old. However, Bloomberg noted how social media giants including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat might implement the Australian rules are one sticking point in what it deemed the world’s first such legislation involving the services. What is certain is that fines of up to AUD50 million ($32.5 million) could be levied on companies that fail to enact the block.

Meta Platforms stated the legislation is not entirely grounded in reality when it comes to the means of verifying users’ age. Elon Musk slated the decision, accusing the Australian government of attempting to control access to the internet. Concerns over the impact of social media services on younger users are widespread, but ABC News reported there are equal worries the ban could leave children isolated and cut off from the validation of like-minded online communities. But one politician said the ban was necessary because social media companies had failed to voluntarily implement protections.