Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he will “bullet-proof” Australia’s social media ban for children under 16. This after evidence showed the legislation had very little impact on teen usage. The social media ban requires platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent minors from signing up or holding an existing account.
A recent study from the British Medical Journal revealed that 85% of Australian children aged 12 to 15 were still actively using social media three months after the ban started. 66% of these children bypassed the restrictions by lying about their birth year or uploading a selfie that was mistaken accepted as being over 16 by an automated verification system.
The government in Australia has stated it will take legal action against the five largest social media platforms for not enforcing the ban. Some social media companies are pushing back against the ban including Reddit, who is launching a free speech challenge in Australia’s High Court.
The social media ban in Australia has shined an light on the dangers of social media for children. Parents are now more willing to monitor their children’s online activity, and social norms around an acceptable age for using social media and smartphones is changing. The world will continue to watch as Australia leads the way.
