Australia’s center-left government has introduced a bill in Parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and proposes fines of up to $32 million for platforms that breach the rules. The government plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce the age cut-off, making it one of the most stringent policies in the world.
The proposed law would have no exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts, and would affect popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and Snapchat. Children will still have access to messaging, online gaming, and health and education services like Headspace, Google Classroom, and YouTube.
The government argues that excessive social media use poses risks to the physical and mental health of children, particularly the impact on body image and exposure to harmful content. Other countries, such as France, have also proposed bans on social media for minors, but Australia’s policy is among the strictest.
The law would place the responsibility on social media platforms to ensure age-verification protections are in place, with robust privacy provisions to protect user data. The Communications Minister stated that the goal is to hold platforms accountable for user safety and address the harm caused by harmful online content.
Overall, the proposed law in Australia seeks to protect children from the negative effects of social media while still allowing access to beneficial services. It represents a significant effort to regulate the use of social media by minors and ensure their safety online.
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