Australia to ban children from using social media

In the future, social media platforms will become taboo for everyone under the age of 16. This is considered unique in the world. Platform operators who get it wrong will face hefty fines.

Australia will ban children and teenagers under 16 from accessing social media. The controversial law, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, has now cleared its final hurdle in parliament: after intense debate, the Senate approved the draft on Thursday with a majority of only 19 votes against. The House of Representatives approved the bill on Wednesday.

Almost all major political parties support the initiative Governor Anthony Albanez. However, some opposition politicians and independent MPs called the law rushed and flawed.

Australian Prime Minister during a question and answer session at Parliament in Canberra.Image: trapezoid

There are severe penalties

However, Australia will not introduce a minimum age for accessing social networks within the next year. Platforms should be given twelve months to implement the new age restrictions.

According to the Australian broadcaster ABC, if technology companies do not take “appropriate measures”, they will face penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars (nearly 30 million francs).

Critics warn the law could isolate children and teenagers and exclude them from the positive aspects of social media.

It's unclear how access would be technically controlled. The obligation to check the minimum age of users should not lie with parents, but with technology companies and internet platforms. There should be no penalties for wrong users. In addition, platforms such as YouTube that do not require registration are exempt from these rules, ABC reported.

The UK is also considering a ban

Albanese made the plan public in September, describing the impact of online networks such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat on children as a “scourge”. He said he wanted his children to have a childhood. Social media, on the other hand, often “takes them away from real friends and real experiences.”

The UK government is also considering setting the minimum age for using social media platforms to 16. UK technology minister Peter Keir recently said he was considering introducing an age limit like Australia's.

Social media platforms must set age restrictions in their terms of service. However, these people are almost always under the age of 16, often even 13 years old. Checking the minimum age is relatively difficult and is not currently enforced.

The country has no universal, legally mandated minimum age for social media users. In theory, parents of teenagers under 16 must consent to its use – but this is rarely proven, and birth dates can easily be falsified when registering.

(t-online/dsc)

About two years ago, the European Commission opened an investigation into a French and a German fashion company. The result: millions of dollars worth of fines.