How Will Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 Work?

Context:

• On December 10, Australia became the first country globally to enforce a blanket social media ban for users under 16 years of age.
• The move follows growing concerns over children’s mental health, cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predatory practices.
• The policy has attracted global attention, with several countries considering similar regulations.

Key Highlights:

The New Law

• Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, 2024, introduced in November 2024.
• Mandates a minimum age of 16 years to hold accounts on specified social media platforms.
• Parental consent is not allowed to bypass the age restriction.

Platforms Covered Under the Ban

• Major platforms blocked for children under 16 include:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X (Twitter)
  • TikTok
  • Snapchat
  • YouTube
  • Reddit
  • Twitch
  • Kick (livestreaming platform)

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Platforms failing to take “reasonable steps” to restrict underage users face fines of up to:
  • A$49.5 million (≈ $33 million)

Government Rationale

• Social media identified as a fertile ground for:
  • Cyberbullying
  • Harmful and addictive content
  • Online grooming and predatory behaviour
• Aim is to protect mental health and well-being of minors.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Country: Australia (first mover globally).
• Law Name: Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, 2024.
• Minimum Age Prescribed: 16 years.
• Regulatory Authority: Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
• Penalty Provision: Up to A$49.5 million fine.
• Age Verification Methods Discussed:
  • Government ID
  • Facial recognition
  • Video selfie (via third-party tools like Yoti)
  • Behavioural age inference
• Concerns Identified:
  • False rejection rates in facial age estimation
  • Surveillance and privacy risks

Relevant Mains Points:

• Governance & Regulation of Big Tech:
  • Marks a shift towards strong state intervention in digital platforms.
  • Raises questions on platform accountability vs individual freedoms.
• Mental Health & Child Safety:
  • Internal reports from Meta and TikTok revealed:
    • Awareness of addictive nature of platforms
    • Links with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social comparison
    • Admission that minors lack executive mental control over screen time
  • Strengthens the case for precautionary regulation.
• Implementation Challenges:
  • Accurate age verification without violating privacy.
  • Risk of false positives excluding legitimate users aged 16–17.
  • Potential digital exclusion and isolation of teenagers.
• Ethical & Rights Concerns:
  • Surveillance of children through biometric verification.
  • Balance between right to protection and right to information.
• Way Forward:
  • Develop privacy-preserving age verification technologies.
  • Standardise age checks at app-store level (Apple, Google Play).
  • Continuous policy review and impact assessment.
  • Global cooperation on child safety standards online.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS II: Governance, public policy, regulation of digital platforms
• GS III: Cyber security, technology and society
• GS IV: Ethics – child protection, corporate responsibility, digital morality