Australia passes world's first law banning use of social media by people under the age of 16, targets X, TikTok, Instagram, etc. but excludes YouTube
The Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024 (Social Media Minimum Age Bill), which the Australian government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been working hard to pass, has passed the Senate and become law. It will come into force as law within 12 months of its passage.
Social media reforms to protect our kids online pass Parliament | Prime Minister of Australia
Children and teenagers under 16 to be banned from social media after parliament passes world-first laws - ABC News
Australia's social media ban for children passes Senate
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-38-bills-labor-wants-answers-on-in-just-one-day-20241128-p5ku7p.html
Australia bans world's first social media use by children younger than 16 - UPI.com
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2024/11/28/Australia-social-media-ban-children/3001732802551/
This bill was intended to be passed by the Albanese government with the aim of 'protecting young people and helping their parents.'
Australia is expected to ban social networking sites for people under 16 - GIGAZINE
Various measures have been put in place to protect children on online services such as social networking sites, but Australia is the first country to make a law prohibiting children under the age of 16 from using social networking sites.
The SNS that will be subject to the restrictions include X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. However, 'access to services and apps whose primary purpose is messaging, online games, education, and health support will remain possible,' meaning that YouTube, Google Classroom , Headspace , Kids Helpline , and others will not be subject to the restrictions.
The law requires social media companies to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from having accounts on their apps. If they fail to do so, they face fines of up to $49.5 million.
The bill also includes strong privacy provisions, and companies that fail to properly discard data collected for age verification purposes will be fined up to $49.5 million. In addition, companies will no longer be able to force users to submit official identification documents, including digital IDs, to verify their age, and will be required to provide reasonable alternatives.
Commenting on the passing of the legislation, Premier Albanese said: 'We've passed important legislation to protect kids online. Social media is causing social harm to our children. We've put an end to that. We want kids to have a healthy childhood and parents to know we have their back.'
Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications in the Albanese Government, said: 'The Albanese Government is resolute in its commitment to protecting children online and passing this Bill is just one way we are delivering on that commitment. We have listened to young people, parents, carers, experts and industry to ensure this legislation is focused on protecting young people, not isolating them. Good governments take on difficult reforms. We know this legislation is unusual, but inaction is not an option. Over the next year, we will work closely with industry and experts to ensure age restrictions are implemented effectively, based on the results of our ongoing trials of age verification technology.'
The bill was not passed unanimously, with opinion polls showing that 77% of Australians supported the bill. Senator Karen Grogan of the ruling Labor Party expressed caution, saying, 'Legislation is a necessary tool, but it is not a panacea.'
Social networking sites that would be subject to the restrictions are also opposed to the bill, with Elon Musk of X stating that 'our sites are not widely used by minors,' and Meta saying that it 'strongly' recommends waiting for the results of age verification testing.
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