Why in News?
Australia has introduced a world-first national ban preventing children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, citing child safety and excessive data-driven profiling by tech companies.
Description:
- Ban applies to 10 major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Reddit, Threads, Kick, and Twitch.
- Platforms must remove accounts of users under 16 or face penalties.
- Platforms already possess the technology and personal data required to conduct age verification.
- Companies may be fined up to AUD 50 million (approx. USD 32.9 million) for non-compliance.
- Government issued notices to platforms demanding implementation details and account closure numbers.
Issues / Criticism:
- Tech companies (e.g., Meta) argue the ban may push children to less regulated platforms, creating greater safety risks.
- Emerging apps like Lemon8 and Yope (not covered by the ban) recorded a surge in downloads, raising concerns about regulatory gaps.
- Implementation challenges include:
- Privacy concerns in verifying ages
- Children circumventing age restrictions
- Ensuring consistent compliance across platforms
Significance:
- Aims to protect children from online harms, data exploitation, and harmful content.
- Strengthens parental control and reduces algorithmic targeting of minors.
- Serves as a potential global precedent for regulating youth access to social media.
- Enhances debate on digital rights, youth safety, and platform accountability.
Key Terms:
- Age-gating: Technological processes to verify user age for platform access.
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