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The Australian government plans to introduce legislation banning children under 16 from accessing social media due to safety concerns.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposal at a press conference, which opened with the line, “This one’s for the mums and dads.”
“Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it.” The politician says he has spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles all of whom are “worried sick about the safety of our kids online.”
On Monday, a decision was made in Cabinet that the new proposed age of being able to access social media will be 16 years old. This is the same age teenagers in Australia can enroll to vote, work full time and get a learners driver permit.
Onus to be on the platforms
A National Cabinet meeting has been convened, including premiers and chief ministers to seek agreement on the preferred age and the legislation that could be expected next year.
The government says the onus will not be on parents or young people, but on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent action.
There would be no penalties for users and it would be up to the country’s online regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, to enforce the laws.
This would mark a significant change for Australians, with social media usage currently being high for young people worldwide.
In the United States, there is currently no national legislation that sets age requirements for social media use but some states have passed laws on the topic.
Connecticut was one of the first states to do so, with a law having come into effect on July 1, 2023, which requires social media platforms to gain parental consent before allowing minors to open accounts.
In June, the New York Governor signed two new bills to protect children from the harmful effects of social media.
Louisiana, Texas, Maryland and Utah also have laws relating to social media and age, with other states soon to be joining them like Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Minnesota.
Featured Image: Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
