Australian Government to Impose Ban on Social Media for Under 16s

The Australian government has revealed plans to prohibit children below the age of 16 from accessing social networking sites. This initiative, set to be presented in parliament in the forthcoming week, is a bid to address the “harm” social media inflicts on Australian children, as expressed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Australian Families’ Online Safety Concerns

The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting Australian families’ concerns over online safety. He was quoted saying, “This is for moms and dads… They, like me, are very concerned about children’s safety online. I want Australian families to know that the government supports them.”

While the specifics of the bill are yet to be deliberated, it has been indicated that the ban will not affect minors who already possess social media accounts.

Enforcement of the Legislation

The government expects social media platforms to demonstrate their efforts to prevent children from accessing their networks. The eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s online regulator, is tasked with enforcing this legislation, which will be effective 12 months after its approval. There will be no penalties for users, Albanese confirmed.

Real Experiences versus Social Networking

Prime Minister Albanese’s plan to restrict children’s access to social networks was initially announced a few months prior. He voiced his preference for teenagers engaging in real-life experiences such as sports over spending time on their phones. According to him, social networking negatively impacts society.

Age Verification Technology and Privacy Concerns

Despite the proposed regulation, some experts, such as Toby Murray, an associate professor of computer science at the University of Melbourne, question the effectiveness of age verification technology. They argue that existing methods are not reliable, easy to circumvent, and pose risks to user privacy.

Global Moves to Restrict Social Media Access

Australia is not alone in its move to regulate social media access for minors. Last month, Norway increased the minimum age for social media usage from 13 to 15. The Norwegian government has escalated its efforts against tech companies, accusing them of exploiting children’s minds. Despite a minimum age limit of 13, a significant number of younger children are active on social networks, according to Norwegian authorities.