Australia’s first-ever social media ban for under-16s is drawing mixed reactions

SYDNEY – Australians reacted on Friday with a mixture of anger and relief to a ban on social media for children under 16 that the government says is the best in the world, but which giants like TikTok argue could push young people into the “dark corners of the internet”.

Australia approved a ban on children’s social media late Thursday after a nationwide debate, setting the benchmark for one of the world’s toughest laws targeting Big Tech.

The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta Platforms to TikTok to stop children from accessing or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). A review of enforcement measures will begin in January, with the ban coming into effect within a year.

“Platforms now have a public responsibility to ensure the safety of our children is their number one priority,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday.
“We’re making sure moms and dads can have that unique conversation today and in the days to come.”

Announcing the details of the ban earlier this month, Albanese pointed out the dangers to the physical and mental health of children due to the excessive use of social media, especially the danger to girls from the harmful exposure of body image, and misogynistic content aimed at boys.

In Sydney on Friday, reaction to the ban was mixed.

“I think that’s a good idea, because I found that children’s social networks (are not suitable at all), sometimes they can look at something they shouldn’t look at,” said Sydney resident Francesca Sambas.

Others were very angry.

“I’m very angry, I feel like this government has taken democracy and thrown it out the window,” said 58-year-old Shon Klose.

“How could they make these laws and regulations and push it on the people?”
The children said they will try to find a way to avoid the ban.

“I feel like I’m still going to use it, I went undercover,” said 11-year-old Emma Wakefield.

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Countries including France and some US states have passed laws restricting access to children without parental consent, but Australia’s ban is complete. Florida’s blanket ban on under-14s is being challenged in court on free speech grounds.

This law was rushed to the national parliament which is the last week of the year, the criticism of firms on social media and other legislators who say that the bill was not considered properly. It passed the floor of the country’s parliament on Friday morning in a procedural hearing.

A spokesperson for TikTok, which is popular with young users, said on Friday that the process had been accelerated and that it risked putting children at greater risk.

“We are disappointed that the Australian government has ignored the advice of many mental health, internet safety, and youth advocacy experts who strongly oppose the ban,” a spokesperson said.

“It is possible that a ban could see young people thrown into the dark corners of the internet where there are no community guidelines, safety tools, or protections.”

Albanese said Friday that passing the bill before the age verification hearing was completed was the right way to go.

“We are sending a clear message about our intentions here,” he said.

“The law is very clear. We do not deny that its implementation will work well, as the prohibition of alcohol for under-18s does not mean that a person under 18 will never reach it, but we know that it is the right thing to do.”

The ban could strain Australia’s relationship with the United States, where X owner Elon Musk, a key figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, said in an email this month that it appeared to be “a backdoor way to control Internet access by all Australians.” .”

It also builds on the existing rift between Australia and the US-owned tech giants. Australia became the first country to make social media pay media outlets huge sums of money to share their content and now plans to threaten them with fines for failing to crack down on scams. – Reuters