{Australia’s Social Media Ban: 4.7 Million Accounts Deleted}
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Australia is implementing stricter regulations on social media platforms to protect children under 16, with potential fines for non-compliance. this follows concerns about online safety and access to harmful content by young users.
eSafety Commissioner and New regulations
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie inman Grant, is overseeing the implementation of new online safety laws requiring social media platforms to verify the age of users and remove accounts belonging to children under 16. These laws came into effect on february 23,2024,and platforms have until March 23,2024,to comply.
The regulations apply to TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Twitch, with potential fines of up to AUD 49.5 million per offense. Messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are currently exempt.
Age Verification Methods
Social media platforms are permitted to employ several methods to verify user age. These include requesting copies of identification documents,utilizing third-party age estimation technology that analyzes facial features,or inferring age based on existing account data,such as account creation date and activity. The eSafety Commissioner details these acceptable methods in its industry code of practice.
Approximately 2.5 million Australians are between the ages of 8 and 15.Prior to the new regulations, estimates indicated that 84% of children aged 8 to 12 had social media accounts. the eSafety Commissioner’s 2023 report on Australian children and social media provides detailed statistics on usage patterns.
As of February 2024, 4.7 million accounts had been deactivated or restricted across the ten platforms targeted by the new regulations, a figure described by Inman Grant as “encouraging.”
Government Rationale and Objectives
The australian government’s primary objective is to protect children from potential online harms and predatory behavior. Julie Inman Grant stated, “We’re preventing predatory social media companies from accessing our children.” This sentiment was echoed in a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.