On Wednesday, children across Australia will awaken to a significant change: they will have no access to their social media accounts due to a world-first ban aimed at protecting those under 16 years old from addictive algorithms, online predators, and digital bullies. This pioneering legislation marks a substantial shift in how social media is regulated and is being closely observed by lawmakers globally.
The Australian government has implemented sweeping measures to restrict access to popular platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Reddit, Twitch, and X. Most of these platforms have committed to complying with the ban by utilizing age verification technology to identify and suspend accounts belonging to users under 16. However, the companies have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these measures in truly safeguarding young users.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is already heralding the ban as a success, citing increased family discussions around social media use. Despite some children and parents likely to circumvent the ban, Albanese emphasized that the lack of penalties for such actions does not diminish the importance of the law. “We’ve said very clearly that this won’t be perfect… but it’s the right thing to do for society,” he stated to the public broadcaster ABC.
Under the new regulations, social media platforms are required to demonstrate that they have undertaken reasonable steps to deactivate accounts used by individuals under 16. Failure to comply could result in substantial fines, reaching up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $32 million).
As part of the compliance measures, various platforms have outlined their strategies to manage accounts belonging to under-16 users:
Snapchat: Accounts of users under 16 will be suspended for up to three years or until they reach the age of 16. YouTube: Users will be automatically signed out on December 10, with their channels hidden but data retained for future reactivation. TikTok: All accounts belonging to users under 16 will be deactivated on December 10, regardless of the email address or name on the account. Twitch: No new accounts for under-16s will be allowed from December 10, with current accounts set to be deactivated by January 9. Meta (Instagram, Facebook, Threads): Active removal of accounts for users under 16 began on December 4, with an option for users to download their content. X: Has not publicly disclosed its compliance strategy but has voiced strong objections to the legislation.Interestingly, certain platforms have been excluded from the ban, including Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, Steam, Steam Chat, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids. The decision to exclude Roblox has raised eyebrows, especially given recent reports of adult predators targeting children within its games. However, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant has indicated that Roblox is collaborating with regulators to implement new safety controls.
To comply with the new law, platforms must actively verify the ages of their users. This requirement has sparked concerns among adult users about potential age verification processes. The Australian government believes that age checks can be conducted without infringing on user privacy, a conclusion supported by the Age Assurance Technology Trial conducted earlier this year. Methods for age verification may include live video selfies, email verification, or the submission of official documents.
The impending ban has prompted some young Australians to seek alternative platforms that remain unaffected. For instance, Yope, a photo-sharing platform, has reportedly gained 100,000 new users as teens look for unsanctioned options. Additionally, Lemon8, a ByteDance-owned platform similar to TikTok, is being promoted among adolescents as a backup. Both platforms have been notified by eSafety Commissioner about compliance with the new laws.
Looking ahead, the Australian government aims to measure the impact of the ban on children's offline engagement. Officials will assess various factors, including sleep patterns, social interactions, mental health, and reading habits. Commissioner Inman-Grant noted the importance of monitoring potential unintended consequences, such as children navigating to less regulated areas of the internet. A collaboration with experts from Stanford University’s Social Media Lab is set to facilitate this data collection, ensuring transparency and accountability.
This historic ban is not just a regulatory experiment; it represents a significant societal shift in how digital safety for children is approached. As Australia leads the way, the global community is keenly observing the outcomes and potential lessons from this bold initiative.