Australia Passes New Law to Restrict Internet Access for Children Under 16

Australia’s Parliament has approved the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024. This new law requires specific social media platforms to block access for kids under 16. It’s one of the toughest online safety laws worldwide, pushing platforms to take “reasonable steps” to confirm users’ ages and protect minors online.

Understanding Australia’s Online Safety Amendment

Purpose and Scope: The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 updates the Online Safety Act 2021. It requires social media platforms like Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter) to block users under 16 from signing up. Platforms focused on education, like YouTube, and messaging apps such as WhatsApp, are not included in this law.

Enforcement and Penalties: Social media companies have one year to follow the new rules, with the eSafety Commissioner in charge of enforcement. Companies that don’t comply could face fines as high as A$50 million (about US$32 million). The law does not force users to upload government IDs to verify their age.

Public and Political Support: The bill, introduced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government, passed with strong approval—102 votes for and only 13 against. It has bipartisan support and is popular with the public. A YouGov survey showed that 77% of Australians agree with the measure.

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What’s Next For the Law to Be Fully Approved?

The law will make social media platforms check users’ ages, but the exact methods will be decided by the eSafety Commissioner. These checks could use tools like biometrics or government IDs, but platforms are not allowed to ask users for private documents like passports.

The law isn’t final yet. The Senate still needs to review it, with plans to approve it by the end of the year. A Senate committee suggests involving more young people to ensure the law keeps kids safe while still letting them use the internet responsibly.

Teens and Big Techs Oppose

Teenagers are worried this new law might make it harder for them to stay connected with friends and family. Youth advocates believe banning social media isn’t the answer. Instead, they suggest making online spaces safer.

Big tech companies like Google and Meta are also against the law. They say it’s unclear how the rules will work. These companies want to delay them until mid-2025 when an ongoing age-verification trial ends. Elon Musk, who owns X, has called the law a possible “backdoor” for controlling the internet.

Australia is the first country to try a law like this. However, other places, like Norway and Florida, are also thinking about similar rules. Unfortunately, this is the kind of law that can encourage other governments to take similar routes.

If the Senate approves the bill, social media platforms will have until late 2025 to fully set up age-verification systems. Prime Minister Albanese says the law is a step toward better mental health and safety for kids online.

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