AUSTRALIA BANS KIDS UNDER 16 FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

Last week saw a historical law being passed when Australia’s government became the first country to ban children under the age of 16 from signing up on any social media platform.

The aim of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Minimum Age) Bill 2024 is to put the onus on social media companies to prevent children from accessing their platforms.

If social media companies fail to do so, they could face hefty fines from the government.

The Bill reads: “There are age restrictions for certain social media platforms. A provider of such a platform must take responsible steps to prevent children who haven’t reached a minimum age from having accounts.”

The law will officially come into effect in late 2025.

Social media platforms that’ll be banned for under sixteen year olds include Reddit, X, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook.

Exemptions have been made for WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom, YouTube, and Messenger Kids.

Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta shared its views on the groundbreaking decision.

“We’re concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people.”

Image credit: China Daily