It is official! Australia has banned social media for kids, becoming the first country to implement a minimum age for using such networking sites.
What does the ban mean?
The social media platforms include Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, and more, where kids under the age of 16 cannot operate them. This is causing millions of children and teenagers to lose access to their accounts on these social media platforms. Platforms that do not comply will be fined up to A$49.5 million ($33 million).
Why has Australia launched the social media ban?
Australian officials say the landmark ban is meant to protect children from addictive social media platforms that experts say can be disastrous for their mental health, NBC News reported. The law received harsh criticism from major technology companies and free speech advocates, but was praised by parents and child advocates.
Though the ban covers 10 platforms initially, including Alphabet's YouTube, Meta's Instagram and TikTok, the Australian government has said the list will change as new products appear and young users switch to alternatives. Of the initial 10, all but Elon Musk's X have said they will comply using age inference - guessing a person's age from their online activity - or age estimation, which is usually based on a selfie. They might also check with uploaded identification documents or linked bank account details, Reuters reported.
