Sydney: The world’s first ban on social media for children under 16 years of age came into effect in Australia on Wednesday. Under this ban, 10 big platforms including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X will have to stop them from creating accounts. In a video message to students across Australia on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government made the change to help children who have grown up with algorithms, endless social media feeds and the pressure they bring.
What message did the Prime Minister give?
He also advised students to take full advantage of the upcoming school holidays, instead of spending all their time scrolling on their phones. “Start a new sport, learn a new musical instrument, or read that book that’s been sitting on your shelf for a while,” Albanese said. And most importantly, spend quality time face-to-face with your friends and family. According to Xinhua News Agency, the Australian Federal Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 in November last year, which requires some social media platforms to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts.
What will happen to the platforms that do not comply?
Platforms that do not comply could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $32.8 million). There are no penalties for children under 16, or their parents or caregivers, who use age-restricted social media platforms. So far, 10 social media platforms have been directed to implement this ban. This includes Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kik and Reddit. Officials can update the list as per need.
How many people support social media ban?
A recent poll shows that the social media ban has received widespread public support, with 73 percent of Australians in support of it. Still, only 26 percent are confident the measure will work, and 68 percent believe children will find a way to avoid it. Support is highest among teachers (84 percent) and parents (75 percent), but drops to 62 percent among 16 to 24-year-olds, according to a poll released in early December by Australian-based global data, insights and digital media company PureProfile.
Which countries want social media ban?
Despite agreeing to comply, most social media platforms are opposing the measure. They argue that the ban is difficult to enforce and could push youth into dark corners of the internet. Global online forum Reddit said Tuesday it would comply with the law, but disagreed with its “scope, effectiveness and privacy implications.” Let us tell you that Australia’s social media ban on teenagers has attracted international attention, with many countries including Denmark, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia and New Zealand reportedly considering similar measures.
