Australia is planning to implement a ban on social media use for children under 16, sparking debates about its necessity and feasibility. The law, introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, aims to safeguard children from the potential harms of social media, such as cyberbullying, mental health issues, and addiction.
Included in the ban are TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook platforms. Noncompliance will attract fines of up to A$50 million, but some ‘low-risk services’ platforms catering to children may still be exempt, though the criteria remain undefined. Implementing it waits until at least 12 months after its passage in Parliament.
The decision to ban social media is favored by many parents, as it protects children from the net unsafe surroundings that the internet provides. Emma, who has a 12-year-old child who was a cyberbullying victim, finds this particular law to give a childhood back to children.
The Wait Mate movement also believes that developing brains are not poised for the pressures and the addictive nature of social media. These supporters strongly promote children to spend time offline and socialize in a safer, better-controlled space.
However, the bill has been hugely criticized as several experts and anti-cyberbullying movements believe that the outcome will be something less desirable than intended. Some predict that controlling under-16s from coming into social media will drift these victims to uncontrolled areas of the internet and are more vulnerable to those unregulated areas.
But there are also risks of isolating the least empowered groups, such as LGBTQ+ and First Nations teens who often find support online. And enforcing the ban will depend on reliable age-verification technology, which raises serious issues about privacy and feasibility.
Critics argue that the ban is an incomplete solution to the current problems in social media. Experts such as Joanne Orlando would advocate for certain amounts of education on digital literacy, teaching children how to handle social media in safety and analysis.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, also calls for stronger regulation of tech companies, making profits secondary to people’s safety. A balanced approach combining regulation with education would be more effective, say these experts.
The legislation, when implemented, could provide a precedent for the world, but its strength would necessarily depend on implementation and flexibility. The Australian government has recognized the areas of issue, advising that the policy will be revisited in light of implementation and gaps identified.
Prime Minister Albanese supported the proposal by stating it was about responsibility and providing young Australians with a safer space to grow. The debate of whether or not the regulations applied to the digital environments being risks or promoting children’s benefits is a global problem.