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But first he wanted to see how the provisions of a new law would be implemented, Kyle continued. According to the Online Safety Act, social media operators such as Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook will have an obligation from next year to protect their users, especially children and young people, from illegal and potentially harmful content. This also includes setting and enforcing certain age limits yourself.
Violations could result in fines running into the millions
The supervisory authority Ofcom is supposed to monitor compliance and, in the event of violations, can impose fines amounting to millions of euros and also initiate criminal consequences for those responsible.
Kyle also announced a research project to address the harmful effects of social media use on children and young people. Child protection organizations warn that minors are exposed online to bullying, abuse and content that can encourage eating disorders and self-harm.
Age tests are very difficult
The government in Australia recently announced a proposed law that would only allow access to social media from the age of 16.
In Germany, social media platforms must set age restrictions in their terms of use. However, these are almost always under 16 years old – and usually even 13 years old. Verification is also very difficult.
There is no general, legally defined minimum age for users of social media in Germany. Theoretically, the parents of young people under the age of 16 would have to agree to its use – but this is rarely verified, and birth dates can easily be falsified during registration.
World-Today-News Editors: We are thrilled to have you both as our guests today to discuss the latest developments in social media regulation and its potential implications on children and young people’s safety online. Let’s start with the new Online Safety Act that came into effect recently. Kyle, as a parent and an advocate for child safety, what are your thoughts on this new law? Do you think it goes far enough in protecting children and young users from harmful content online?
Kyle: Thank you for having me. I think the new Online Safety Act is a step in the right direction, but I believe more can still be done to protect children from harmful content online. While the law obliges social media operators to protect their users, especially children and young people, from illegal and potentially harmful content, the implementation process will be crucial. It remains to be seen how effectively these provisions will be enforced, and whether they can keep up with the rapidly changing nature of online content. Furthermore, I am pleased to hear about the research project aimed at addressing the harmful effects of social media use on children and young people. This is an essential aspect that needs to be addressed as we continue to navigate the digital age.
World-Today-News Editors: Excellent points. Now, Sarah, as a social media expert, what challenges do you foresee in implementing the Online Safety Act, and how do you think social media platforms should approach age verification?
Sarah: Thank you for having me. Implementing the Online Safety Act will be a significant challenge for social media platforms, especially with the scale of content they are dealing with. Ensuring that users are of the appropriate age without relying on self-reporting will require robust age verification systems that balance privacy concerns and effectiveness. However, it’s not just about age verification; it’s also about providing age-appropriate content and features that cater to different age groups. There should be more collaboration between governments, platforms, and child protection organizations to develop industry standards for safety and well-being.
World-Today-News Editors: We agree that effective age verification is crucial, but recent developments around the world have raised concerns about setting a minimum age for social media access. Australia announced a proposed law that would only allow access to
