Over one million social media accounts held by children aged under 16 are set to be deactivated in Australia as a first-of-its-kind social media ban imposed by the government goes into effect on Wednesday.
The landmark ban will make Australia the first such country to take a step. Lawmakers had swiftly approved the step late last year, saying that the move is meant to protect children from addictive social media platforms which could prove disastrous for their mental health, NBC News reported.
“With one law, we can protect Generation Alpha from being sucked into purgatory by predatory algorithms described by the man who created the feature as ‘behavioural cocaine,’” Communications Minister Anika Wells told the National Press Club in Canberra last week.
‘We’re world’s first domino’
Julie Inman Grant, who regulates online safety as Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, called the country’s step as a “world’s first domino” at a recent Sydney event.
What changes for social media companies?
With the ban going into effect, social media companies will now be required to enforce the ban. They will be liable to pay fines of up to 49.5 Australian dollars (about $32 million) for serious or repeated breaches.
Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, X, Snapchat and Reddit are all set to be age-restricted under the law, according to a list shared by the eSafety Commissioner.
All of the platforms have said they will comply, and some have taken action before the ban even takes effect, with Meta saying last month that it would start closing Instagram, Threads and Facebook accounts on December 4.
Children and parents, however, will not be punished for any infringements.
How have Australians reacted to the ban?
The ban has found broad support in Australia, where a YouGov poll last year found that 77% of respondents were in favour of it. Supporters say it will encourage children to prioritise in-person interactions, boosting their social skills, according to NBC News.
Critics, however, claim that for those living in remote parts of the country, the ban could prove to be a hindrance and curtail connectivity.
Two 15-year-olds have brought a legal challenge against it to the nation’s highest court, Reuters had earlier reported.
Are other countries going to follow suit?
Similar bans are currently under consideration in the UK, EU, Malaysia and New Zealand. The move is also being watched closely in the US with Florida’s law banning young teens from having their own social media accounts going into effect, NBC Miami reported.