In November 2024, the Australian Parliament passed a law that prohibits children under the age of 16 from accessing social networks. This law came into effect at midnight on Wednesday, December 10, as reported by Kazinform citing the BBC.
List of Prohibited Platforms
The ban includes popular platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Reddit, and X. Exceptions are made for messengers, email services, online games, and educational resources. Australian authorities noted that the list of prohibited platforms will be updated as new services emerge and the habits of young users change.
According to the new law, platforms are required to implement age verification mechanisms, such as analyzing online activity or assessing age based on selfies. The use of identification documents or bank details associated with the account for age verification is also possible.
Australian lawmakers decided not to make exceptions even for those children whose parents consent to the creation of social media accounts.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged young people to use their school holidays more productively by engaging in sports, learning to play musical instruments, reading books, and spending time with friends and family.
Discussion of Implementing Control Technologies
However, many platforms claim that the new law could violate freedom of speech.
They warn that such a ban could make children less safe and infringe on their rights, and the control methods proposed by the government raise many questions.
Paul Taske from NetChoice, an organization representing the interests of major tech companies, stated: “Australia is effectively imposing total censorship, depriving youth of information and connection to the outside world, as well as the necessary skills for adult life.”
Some companies, such as Meta and Snap, are attempting to shift the responsibility for age verification onto app operators like Apple and Google.
The First Lawsuit Against the Law
Two 15-year-old teenagers, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, with the support of human rights advocates, filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Australia, challenging the law as a violation of their right to free communication.
“I am against the ban on social media because it means that we, young Australians, are left without a voice and connection to the world. We grew up with this, and now it’s just being taken away from us,” commented Noah Jones.
The lawsuit was filed in the High Court of Australia at the end of November.
Human rights advocates note that social networks are an important source of information and communication for teenagers, and the law could negatively impact the most vulnerable groups: children with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, residents of remote areas, and youth from the LGBTQ+ community.
Experts also warn that children may find ways to bypass the ban, such as using VPNs, and urge parents to actively monitor their children's activities on social media.
