The Australian Parliament is gearing up to consider legislation that prohibits minors under 16 from using social media in all cases after the government proposed this law. If the law is passed, it is expected to take effect within the next year, prompting social media platforms to enhance tools for age verification of users.
The crux of this legislation lies in Australia’s move to ban all usage and raise the age limit. Currently, most social media platforms set terms and conditions that do not allow users under 13 to sign up, but minors still need parental approval before registering. Furthermore, many platforms have added options to create child-appropriate versions or implement parental control systems.
The Australian government states that this law will apply to all, including users under 16 who currently use social media with parental consent. The concept is that providing exceptions in some cases could potentially be a loophole for social media platforms.
Previously, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, voiced opposition to this draft law, citing a survey of Australian parents that found 67% believe allowing children to use social media for communication is beneficial, but they also want to be able to control their usage. They do not want a blanket prohibition as proposed by this legislation.
Source: ABC News Australia Image: Pixabay
TLDR: The Australian Parliament is considering a law to ban minors under 16 from using social media, prompting platforms to enhance age verification tools. Meta opposes the law, emphasizing the need for parental control over children’s social media usage.
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