Australia’s under-16s social media ban, hailed as ‘world-leading,’ faces concerns over its effectiveness and implementation challenges.
Nine months into Australia‘s under-16s social media ban, the government is still struggling to provide clarity on how the policy will be implemented. Despite being hailed as ‘world-leading‘ by the Australian government and praised in the US and UK, concerns over its effectiveness remain.
In 2015, Australia considered banning certain social media platforms due to concerns over online bullying and cyberbullying.
The proposed ban aimed to restrict access to sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for minors under 13 years old.
However, the initiative faced opposition from tech companies and advocacy groups, who argued that such a ban would infringe on users' freedom of expression and limit access to essential information.
The proposal was ultimately dropped, but it sparked a broader discussion about social media regulation in Australia.
The bill was passed by parliament last year after a rushed process that left mental health groups, LGBTQ+ groups, and other campaigners feeling marginalized. The committee reviewing the bill only reviewed the legislation for a single day, despite receiving over 15,000 submissions.
A trial of age assurance technology is currently underway, with schoolchildren being recruited to participate just weeks before the first report is due. However, concerns remain over whether the platforms will comply with the ban. The UK-based company, ACCS, has been tasked with conducting an assessment of the technology used to determine whether people are the age they say they are when accessing social media. The preliminary report is expected by the end of April, but it will not be made public.
The ban includes several exemptions, including ‘YouTube’ , which was granted an exemption on its own while health and education services were included in another carve out. However, evidence suggests that most children under 13 are accessing social media through ‘YouTube’ , raising questions over the effectiveness of these exemptions.
The implementation of the ban is proving to be a challenge for the government. The stakeholder advisory board overseeing the trial has some members who have long called for bans or restrictions on online pornography, but digital rights and privacy groups are still waiting to be included.
Whether the social media companies will comply with the ban remains to be seen. If they do not, it could lead to a global backlash against the Australian government’s policy. The inconsistent treatment of some platforms over others might also lead to companies seeking to push back on the ban in other countries.
Social media companies have revolutionized the way people communicate and interact with each other.
Founded in the early 2000s, these platforms have grown exponentially, with billions of users worldwide.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn are some of the most popular social media companies, providing a platform for sharing ideas, news, and experiences.
According to a report by Hootsuite, there are over 4.2 billion active social media users, accounting for more than half of the global population.
The ban had bipartisan support during the federal election campaign, but concerns remain that the policy may not be effective. The opposition leader, ‘Peter Dutton’ , and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have both stated that the ban is not up for negotiation, but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to ensure its success.
As the Australian government prepares to implement its under-16s social media ban, concerns remain over how it will work and whether it will be effective. With only months left before the policy comes into effect, it remains to be seen whether this ‘world-leading’ policy will be a recipe for disaster or a success story.
