theguardian.com
Australia's Social Media Age Limit
Australia plans to legislate a 16-year-old age limit for social media, but enforcement details remain unclear. The government will penalize non-compliant platforms but is leaving the age verification method to the tech companies.
English
United Kingdom
TechnologySocial MediaGovernmentCybersecurityLegislationChild Safety
Australian GovernmentFacebookInstagramTiktokEsafety Commissioner
Anthony AlbaneseMichelle Rowland
- What are the government's reasons for introducing this legislation?
- The government's rationale centers on concerns about the negative impact of social media on young people, citing issues like misogyny and body image. Prime Minister Albanese mentioned conversations with parents sharing similar worries.
- Will the new laws completely prevent underage access to social media?
- The proposed legislation acknowledges challenges in achieving 100% compliance. It aims to set parameters for society and improve online safety for young people, though it won't eliminate all underage access.
- How will the Australian government enforce the new social media age limit?
- The Australian government's plan leaves the enforcement of the age limit to social media platforms, who must demonstrate reasonable steps to prevent underage access. Penalties will target the platforms, not the underage users.
- What is the Australian government's proposed age limit for social media access?
- Australia will legislate a 16-year-old age limit for social media access, aiming to enhance online child safety. The government plans to penalize platforms failing to comply but hasn't detailed enforcement mechanisms.
- What methods are being considered for verifying users' ages on social media platforms?
- While the government considers options like biometric scanning and government database verification, the final methods will depend on the tech companies. They will be responsible for establishing age verification processes.