Australia's plan to prohibit under-16s from using social media platforms has been labeled 'rushed' by the companies themselves, who have voiced 'serious concerns' about potential unforeseen outcomes. The groundbreaking legislation would mandate social media firms to block young teens from accessing their platforms or face penalties of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million). Platforms like X, Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta have criticized the 24-hour window provided for stakeholder feedback, arguing for insufficient consultation and unclear details on how the legislation would be implemented.
X, in its submission, expressed 'serious concerns' that the ban could have 'a negative impact' on children, further stating that it infringes on their 'rights to freedom of expression and access to information'. The company also highlighted that the proposed law is 'vague' and 'highly problematic', with 'no evidence' of its effectiveness. Australia is at the forefront of nations attempting to regulate social media, and the proposed age limit would be one of the world's most stringent measures targeting children.
The proposed laws, introduced to parliament last week, would also include stringent privacy provisions requiring tech platforms to delete any collected age-verification data. The government aims to pass the law this week before parliament adjourns for the year. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, argued in its submission that the ban would 'fail' in its current form due to inadequate stakeholder consultation. 'More time should be taken to get this bill right,' it stated. TikTok raised concerns over the privacy provisions, including overlaps and contradictions with other legislation, and the limited time for stakeholder consultation.
'Its rushed passage poses a serious risk of further unintended consequences,' TikTok's submission noted. Key details on how social media companies are expected to enforce the ban remain unclear. Some companies, like YouTube, may be exempted from the ban, as teenagers might need access for schoolwork or other purposes. Once hailed as a tool for staying connected and informed, social media platforms have been marred by issues like cyberbullying, the dissemination of illegal content, and allegations of election interference.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asserted on Tuesday that 'social media is causing social harm'. 'It can be a weapon for bullies, a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers, and, worst of all, a tool for online predators,' he wrote in an opinion piece. 'And because it is young Australians who are most engaged with this technology – it is young Australians who are most at risk.' The laws aim to provide families with 'peace of mind' that their children's well-being and mental health are being prioritized. If the proposed law is passed, tech platforms would have a one-year grace period to determine how to implement and enforce the ban. The proposal comes ahead of a general election in Australia, which must be held in the first half of 2025.
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