"Australia’s Landmark Law: Social Media Ban for Under-16s with $33M Penalties for Violations"

 

"The law passed by the Australian Senate on Thursday will now make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) if they fail to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts."

Australia Becomes First Country to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 16

Australia has made history by becoming the first country to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms. The Australian Senate passed the new law on Thursday, as reported by AP.

The House of Representatives approved the legislation with a strong majority of 102 votes to 13 on Wednesday, and the Senate followed with 34 votes to 19.

This new law will hold social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram accountable. If these platforms fail to stop children under 16 from creating accounts, they could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million). However, the ban does not apply to YouTube.

This landmark move is aimed at protecting young users online and sets a significant precedent for other countries.

The House of Representatives still needs to approve changes made to the law by the Senate, but since the government has already agreed to them, this is expected to be a formality.

Once the law is finalized, social media platforms will have one year to figure out how to enforce the ban before facing penalties.

The House is set to approve the amendments on Friday.

A recent YouGov poll, reported by NBC News, found that 77% of Australians support the ban, a significant increase from 61% in August.

Reactions to Australia's Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has emphasized the need for this law to protect young people from the dangers of social media, as reported by WION.

"This is a global problem, and we want young Australians to have a proper childhood. We also want parents to feel at ease," PM Albanese said while presenting the bill to the lower house last week.

Concerns About Australia's Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16

The Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI) has raised concerns about how the new law will affect children.

“The law was released and passed within a week, leaving everyone unsure about how it will actually work. Both the community and platforms don’t know what’s expected of them,” said DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose, as reported by AP.

Senator David Shoebridge from the Minority Greens party also voiced worries, saying the ban could harm children who rely on social media for support and connection.

Debate and Concerns Surrounding Australia's Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16

The Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI) has raised questions about the law's impact on children. DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose said the legislation was rushed through in just a week, leaving the community and platforms unclear on how to implement it, as reported by AP.

Senator David Shoebridge from the Greens party warned that the ban could isolate vulnerable children, particularly in regional areas and the LGBTQI community, who often rely on social media for support. “This policy will hurt vulnerable young people the most by cutting them off,” Shoebridge said in the Senate.

Opposition Senator Maria Kovacic defended the bill, calling it necessary. “This legislation is simple: it requires social media companies to identify and remove underage users. This responsibility has been ignored for too long in favor of profits,” she argued.

However, Christopher Stone, Executive Director of Suicide Prevention Australia, criticized the legislation for ignoring the positive role social media can play in supporting young people's mental health. “Young Australians deserve evidence-based policies, not rushed decisions,” Stone said in a statement.

Tech companies also expressed concerns. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, called the legislation "rushed," while Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), labeled it a "backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians."

Defending the bill, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We know technology moves fast, and some will try to bypass these laws. But that doesn’t excuse us from taking responsibility.”

The debate highlights both the urgency and the challenges of implementing such a groundbreaking policy.

Related link:

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/australia-passes-landmark-order-banning-social-media-for-under-16s-7127320

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