The Australian government on Thursday unveiled what it calls world-leading legislation that would set a 16-year age limit for children to start using social media and hold platforms accountable for ensuring compliance.
Prime Minister: “Social media is having a negative impact on children, so I want to take time to deal with it.'' Anthony Albanese Said.
The bill is expected to be introduced in Congress during the last two weeks of this year's session, which begins Nov. 18. The age limit will go into effect 12 months after the bill is passed, Albanese told reporters.
Platforms including X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook will need to use the year to consider how they can exclude Australian children under 16.
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“I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who, like me, are deeply concerned about their children's safety online,” Albanese said.
The proposal comes as governments around the world struggle with how to oversee young people's use of technology, including: smartphone and social media.
Social media platforms will be penalized for violating age restrictions, but minor children and their parents will not be penalized.
“The onus is on social media platforms to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access, not on parents or young people,” Albanese said.
Antigone Davis, Head of Safety metaThe company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said it would respect any age restrictions the government wants to put in place.
“But what's missing is a deeper discussion about how to implement protections. Otherwise we risk feeling good about taking action, but we don't want to protect teenagers. Our young people and their parents are not in a better situation,” Davis said in a statement.
He added that powerful tools in app stores and operating systems for parents to control which apps their children can use would be a “simple and effective solution.”
X did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. TikTok He declined to comment.
Digital Industry Group, which champions Australia's digital industry, described the age limit as a “20th century response to a 21st century challenge”.
DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose said in a statement: “Rather than blocking access through bans, we need to strike a balance between creating age-appropriate spaces, increasing digital literacy and protecting young people from online harm. We need to take a more proactive approach.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed legislation that would set the minimum age for children to use social media at 16 at a press conference in Canberra on Thursday, November 7, 2024. (AAP image via Mick Tsikas/AP)
more 140 Australian and international academics Last month, he, who has expertise in technology and child welfare, signed an open letter to Albanese opposing age restrictions on social media, calling them “too blatant a measure to effectively address risk.” did.
Jackie Harran, director of youth mental health service Reach Out, opposed the ban. He said 73 per cent of young people accessing mental health support across Australia did so through social media.
“We are uncomfortable with bans. We think young people are more likely to avoid bans, but our concern is that bans actually encourage underground behavior. “If things worsen, young people may not have support from their parents or carers. They're worried about getting into trouble,” Harran said.
Child psychologist Philip Tam said setting the minimum age at 12 or 13 would have been more enforceable.
“Honestly, what I'm really afraid of is that the social media problem is just going to be pushed underground,” Tam said.
Associate Professor Faith Gordon, a lawyer at the Australian National University, worried that pulling children off the platform could create pressure within families.
Mr Albanese said exclusions and exemptions would be made in situations such as where there is a need for continued access to educational services.
However, children under 16 do not have the right to access social media without parental consent.
Earlier this year, the government Experiments with age restriction technology. australian e-safety commissionerthe online watchdog that monitors compliance, will use the outcome of that trial to provide guidance on what reasonable steps platforms can take.
Minister of Communications michelle roland He said the one-year implementation would ensure age restrictions were enforced in a “very practical way”.
“Penalties need to be strengthened to ensure compliance,” Rowland said.
“All businesses operating in Australia, whether based in Australia or not, are expected to comply with Australian law and must face the consequences of failing to comply.” she added.
The main opposition parties have expressed support in principle for the age limit of 16 years.
Opposition MP Paul Fletcher said platforms already had the technology to enforce such age restrictions.
Fletcher told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: “This isn't really a question of technical feasibility, it's a question of whether we're ready to do it and whether it's going to cost us to do it. It's a problem,” he said.
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“The platforms are saying: 'It's too difficult, we can't do it, Australia is going to be a remote place, it's probably not going to work.' But get a well-written bill and stick to your guns. If you can, you'll get results,” Fletcher added.
