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Australia plans to strengthen laws banning children from social media
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, plans to strengthen laws banning children under 16 from social media platforms due to evidence that the current ban, effective since December 2022, has largely failed.
- Despite Australia being the first country to enact such legislation, data shows that seven in ten underage children still maintain accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
- The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has indicated she may pursue court action against major social media companies for not adequately enforcing the ban, with potential fines reaching up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
- Experts and officials highlight the need for stronger regulatory powers or new enforcement approaches, as current tools appear insufficient to compel platforms to comply with the law.
- Similar age-based social media restrictions are being considered or implemented in countries such as Britain, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, and several European and Asian nations.
