The text, which was adopted Thursday by the Australian Parliament, should soon force platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat to take reasonable measures to prevent children and young adolescents from having an account.
Failure to comply with this obligation will result in fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (30.7 million euros).
It is entirely likely that the ban will lead young people to darker areas of the Internet where there are no general rules, safety tools or protectionnoted a TikTok spokesperson in a press release on Friday, expressing regret that the Australian government had ignored the advice of many experts.
Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for its part deplored the fact that what the sector had not taken into account already done to ensure age-appropriate experienceswhile ensuring that the law would be respected.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Australia also ruled that the law was not a miracle solution against online dangers and could redirect children to spaces hidden and unregulated.
Center-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged that enforcement of the law will not be perfect, like the age restriction on the sale of alcohol, but that it was nonetheless the good thing to do.
Mr. Albanese, who is preparing for elections at the start of the year, championed this text and called on parents to unite with this law.
– Unanswered questions –
Despite much reluctance, the social media giants have committed to working with the Australian government to define the terms of application of the law before it comes into force, scheduled for a year from now.
The text in fact provides almost no details on its terms of application, so much so that some experts have expressed doubts about the technical feasibility of this ban and wonder if it is not a text within the scope symbolic, but inapplicable.
The Australians also seem doubtful.
I don’t think it will change much, because I don’t see a really effective way to policeunderlines Emily Beall, a 41-year-old Melbourne resident.
Arthur McCormack, 19, says he saw content on social networks when he was younger that was a little traumatic. Although he approves of the adoption of this law, the young man nevertheless has difficulty seeing how it could be implemented.
Meta called for these terms of application to be subject to consultation in order to guarantee a technically feasible outcome that is not an expensive burden for parents or adolescents.
A Snapchat spokesperson also assured AFP that the application would collaborate to help develop an approach that balances privacy, security and applicability.
The company, however, expressed serious concerns as for this law, the application of which raises many unanswered questions according to her.
For Katie Maskiell, a Unicef official in Australia, young people must certainly be protected in this digital age, but without being excluded.
This ban risks preventing them from accessing aspects of the online world essential to their well-beingshe noted.
– Global interest –
One of the questions raised by this new legislation is that of the provisions relating to the protection of private life.
Amendments have been made to the text to prevent users from having to provide their identity card to attest to their age.
Students check their phones in Melbourne on November 28, 2024
For social media giants, age verification should be carried out by application stores, but the Australian government instead believes that this responsibility falls to them.
Certain platforms like WhatsApp and YouTube, which teenagers need to do their homework, should be exempted.
The entry into force of this new legislation will be closely followed abroad, with several countries also considering implementing similar restrictions, such as Spain.
In the US state of Florida, a law is due to come into force in January to prohibit the opening of an account to those under 14, but the practical arrangements have not been set.
China has restricted access for minors since 2021 and requires identification via an identity document. Those under 14 cannot spend more than 40 minutes a day on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and online gaming time for children and adolescents is also strictly limited.
## Is Australia’s Social Media Ban for Under-18s a Step Forward or a Symbolic Gesture?
**World-today-News Dissects New Legislation with Leading Digital Rights expert**
Australia has taken a bold stance by passing legislation aimed at preventing children and young adolescents from opening accounts on major social media platforms. But is this new law a groundbreaking step towards online safety or a symbolic gesture with limited practical request?
to shed light on the complexities surrounding this controversial legislation, World-Today-News spoke with Dr. Anya Ivanova, a leading expert on digital rights and online safety at the University of Melbourne.
**WTN**: Dr. Ivanova, Australia’s ban on social media accounts for under-18s has sparked a heated debate. What are your initial thoughts on this legislation?
**Dr.Ivanova**: It’s a double-edged sword. On the surface, the intention is laudable – to protect young people from the potential harms of unchecked social media use. However, several concerns arise regarding its implementation and potential unintended consequences.
**WTN**: Critics argue that pushing young people away from mainstream platforms could drive them towards less regulated online spaces. What’s your take on this?
**Dr. Ivanova**: It’s a valid concern. Blocking access to platforms like TikTok or Instagram might not prevent access to the internet altogether. Young people are resourceful, and they may simply find alternative platforms with weaker safety mechanisms and less moderation. This could potentially expose them to even greater risks.
**WTN**: Some experts have voiced concerns about the law’s vagueness. What are your thoughts on the lack of details regarding its implementation?
**Dr. Ivanova**: The lack of clarity is indeed troubling. Without concrete guidelines on how platforms should verify age and enforce the ban, the law risks being unenforceable or open to misinterpretation. This ambiguity could lead to inconsistencies and unfair application, further complicating matters.
**WTN**: The Australian government emphasized the importance of parental involvement in online safety. How crucial is this aspect in the context of this law?
**Dr. Ivanova**: Parental involvement is absolutely critical. Technological solutions alone cannot safeguard children online. Open interaction, education about online safety, and establishing healthy boundaries are essential.
This law shouldn’t be seen as a silver bullet but rather as one piece of a broader strategy.
**WTN**: what are your hopes for the future regarding online safety for young people in Australia?
**Dr.Ivanova**: I hope to see a multi-pronged approach that involves collaboration between governments, tech companies, educators, and parents.
This requires ongoing dialog, a commitment to research and growth of age-appropriate online spaces, and a focus on digital literacy for all ages.
Only through a holistic and collaborative effort can we truly protect young people in the digital age.
Dr. Anya Ivanova’s insights highlight the complexity of navigating online safety for young people.
While Australia’s legislation aims to address a major concern, its effectiveness hinges on addressing the concerns raised by experts and ensuring a extensive approach that prioritizes both protection and education.
This debate will undoubtedly continue to evolve as the landscape of the digital world changes.
