The new Australian government promises innovative legislation that will ban the use of social media for any child under the age of 16 years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposed law, which is set to be introduced into parliament next week, is needed to help protect children from potential harms associated with social media. "This is for parents everywhere," he said, knowing the many concerns out there about their children's safety online. "The government has your back.
The new Australian government promises innovative legislation that will ban the use of social media for any child under the age of 16 years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposed law, which is set to be introduced into parliament next week, is needed to help protect children from potential harms associated with social media. "This is for parents everywhere," he said, knowing the many concerns out there about their children's safety online. "The government has your back."
Under the new laws, it would only prevent new users, with no implications for children already using social media sites. It would also still ban children under 16-even with parental consent. The companies will be responsible for proving that they take measures regarding this age limit, while supervision will be from Australia's eSafety Commissioner. There will be no penalties for users, but the regulator will have powers to enforce the rules.
The law, when passed, would come into effect after 12 months and be reviewed from time to time. While the risks which social media could pose to the mental health of the youth have been wide and broad, there is far less consensus on the effectiveness of an outright ban. Some feel it would merely delay the challenges and not teach the youths to handle the digital world responsibly. Past efforts to adopt similar rules, like those in the European Union, often have been plagued by technical problems and fierce opposition from social media companies.
The Australian Child Rights Taskforce branded the proposal overreach and urged instead that safety standards be implemented. The task force's open letter, signed by more than 100 academics and 20 organizations, is in line with the UN guidance, which asks governments to ensure safe, constructive online access rather than just restricting children's access.
Grassroots advocates, on the other hand, cite the need for the law to protect children from explicit content, misinformation, cyberbullying, and peer pressures. A petition signed by over 125,000 persons by the 36Months initiative states that excessive use of social media might harm the psychological development of young people, leading to a mental health crisis.
Pressed on whether educationally framed approaches might better equip children with the ability to manage online risks, Albanese said such measures are not adequate; they fail to account for the potent power of social media algorithms: "These tech companies have enormous power. They are driving behaviors in ways that can overwhelm even adults let alone a vulnerable 14-year-old," he said, underlining the specific risks presented by the online environment.
