Australia is taking steps to implement legislation that will ban children under 16 from using social media without parental consent. This move is being hailed as a ‘world-leading’ initiative.
The proposed measures are part of a suite of new online safety laws that designed to better protect younger users from the dangers of social media. This includes exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, data privacy breaches and other online risks.
Under the proposed legislation, social media companies operating in Australia will be required to obtain clear parental consent for users under 16 years of age. This consent would need to be renewed every year to remain valid. These efforts highlight the growing concerns world-wide over social media’s impact on children and teenagers.
The proposed laws will not only cover major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter but will also regulate other online areas where harmful content and behaviour can proliferate, like online gaming platforms.
While the proposals are applauded by many as a positive step towards protecting children online, there are also concerns if effectively enforcing such a law would be possible due to the complexity of the internet and the global nature of these companies.
It is predicted to bring about a significant shift in the social media landscape, particularly as other countries observe how Australia navigates the enforcement and effectiveness of such legislation. The proposed laws are yet to be passed and will be reviewed carefully before implementation.
