In a landmark move, Australia has become the first country to ban social media access for individuals under the age of 16. The Social Media Minimum Age Bill, passed after a heated national debate, has positioned Australia at the forefront of global efforts to regulate Big Tech. The legislation, reported by Reuters, could inspire other countries considering similar measures to address rising concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health.
The new regulation mandates tech giants, including Meta (parent company of Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok, to prevent minors from signing up on their platforms. Companies failing to comply face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). A trial program to test enforcement mechanisms will commence in January, with the full ban scheduled for implementation within a year.
Interestingly, YouTube, owned by Alphabet’s Google, is exempt from the law, as it is extensively used for educational purposes in schools. However, many tech companies have called for a delay in implementing the legislation until effective age verification systems can be put in place.
Australia’s bold move serves as a precedent for other governments considering age restrictions on social media usage, emphasizing the need to safeguard youth against potential risks posed by digital platforms.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared the news regarding the new regulation restricting social media by minors via his social media X handle, saying, “And it will now officially become law. We're doing everything we can to keep our kids safe.”
Reacting to the post shared by the Australian PM, X owner Alon Musk commented on his handle, “Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.”
The new norm also reflects an antagonism angle developing between Australian and US-domiciled tech firms, also because Australia was the pioneer country to ask for media outlets' royalties from social media platforms for posting their content and pay hefty fines in case of failure to stamp out scams. Now, the country is imposing fines for failing to stop minors from using their accounts.
A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that the Facebook owner regarded Australian law, but was also "concerned" about the fast process, which "rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences and the voices of young people."
"The task now turns to ensuring there is productive consultation on all rules associated with the Bill to ensure a technically feasible outcome that does not place an onerous burden on parents and teens and a commitment that rules will be consistently applied across all social apps used by teens," said the spokesperson.
Snapchat parent Snap also agrees to comply with Australian regulations while raising concerns about the legislation. "While there are many unanswered questions about how this law will be implemented in practice, we will engage closely with the Government and the eSafety Commissioner during the 12-month implementation period to help develop an approach that balances privacy, safety and practicality," said the spokesperson.
"It's cart before horse," stated Sunita Bose, Managing Director of Digital Industry Group, having the most social media firms as members.
"We have the bill but we don't have guidance from the Australian government around what are the right methods that a whole host of services subject to this law will need to employ," Bose spoke to Reuters.
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