Photo by Berke Citak on Unsplash
Australia’s social media ban will not be an overnight remedy for bettering teen health as experts anticipate delays with removing under 16s by December 10.
The Social Media Minimum Age Bill was introduced to Parliament in November last year, with the ban or delay effective from next week.
In an address to the National Press Club, Anika Wells, minister of communications and minister of sports, said the world-first law is not a “cure” or “set and forget” solution.
It will take some time to remove all underage users.
Eighty-six per cent of children between eight and 15 are already on social media, according to Wells.
The platforms subject to the ban, which include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit, have not been mandated to use specific age-verification technology.
“It will take time for the age assurance sieve to filter out the existing accounts and stop new accounts from being created,” said Wells.
“Increasing the minimum age to have a social media account is not a cure, it is a treatment plan.
“And this is not set and forget. We can’t be static in dynamic environments - because the tech sure isn’t.”
This week YouTube announced that it will now require viewers to be 16 or older to sign to the platform.
And last month, Meta announced its own restrictions for owned companies; Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
The government is holding to account any platform that does not take reasonable steps to provide proper age-verification and stop underage users from creating accounts. This is inclusive of a fine of $49.5 million.
Wells said platforms are not expected to deliver overnight success rates and clarified how the fines work in practice.
“So, the question you’re all desperate to know the answer to - who is getting slapped with the first $50 million fine on 10 December?" she said.
“The bureaucrats in the room will back me up here – but regulation rarely acts fast and certainly not that fast.
"Information gathering and enforcement powers lay with the eSafety Commission. But what you can expect is on 11 December, eSafety will send notices to the ten platforms we have named in our dynamic list.
“These notices will seek evidence including how many underage accounts they had on 9 December before the law started and on 11 December after the law started.
“Those platforms will have time to reply, before the next round of information requests are sent out asking for updated figures every month for six months. The government recognises that age assurance may require several days or even weeks to complete fairly and accurately.
“However, if eSafety identifies systemic breaches of the law, the platforms will face fines of up to $49.5 million. Regulation, and cultural change, takes time. Takes patience. This law is world leading and countries around the world are taking our lead.”
Some of the major backlash the ban has received is how it will push kids and teens towards less-regulated and suggestively, more un-safe platforms.
Wells says the government is working with the eSafety Commission to mitigate these concerns.
“The eSafety will watch and respond to migratory patterns and if LinkedIn becomes a secret online meeting place for under 16s, I will not hesitate to act,” said Wells.
“And eSafety will be conducting an evidence-based evaluation of the impacts of the law - good and bad, intended and unintended - to inform the government’s two year statutory review.”
Under the Online Safety Act 2021 (The Online Safety Amendment 2024) within two years after the day the minimum age requirement takes effect, the minister must initiate an independent review of the operation of the new law.
This is essentially an assessment of digital safety measures and how effective the ban has been. It also recognises what needs changing.
In her address, Wells recognised the difficulties for teenagers making the adjustment. She points to the role advertisers and social media algorithms have played in targeting teenagers; their interests and insecurities.
“I understand that losing access to social media is going to be hard for many under 16s – especially because the apps have been deliberately designed with addictive features," she said.
“Teenage addiction wasn’t a bug. It was a design feature. And on December 10 there will be withdrawal symptoms. Teenagers will be upset, some will fight to get back on, and some will manage to find their way around the tech and keep their accounts. But I truly believe short-term discomfort will be worth long-term benefits.
“In the palm of their hand, they have constant access to a TV, phone, a computer, a comparison. Targeted algorithms, persistent notifications, and toxic popularity metres are stealing their attention for hours every day.
“If they put the phone away, they might miss something. There is no reprieve. That’s why this law matters – to give Gen Alpha, and the next generation, a break from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media.
“This specific law will NOT fix every harm occurring on the internet.
“But, it will make it easier for kids to chase a better version of themselves without being chased into predatory algorithms.”
Wells scorned issues of online beauty standards and comparison, deepfakes and an algorithm-created “dopamine drip”.
The social media ban is just one of the many steps towards creating a safer digital space for Australian children and teens.
The government has also committed itself to a Digital Duty of Care which places the responsibility back on service and platforms to mitigate harm.
“The eSafety is also implementing industry codes under the Online Safety Act that will uplift safety standards of online services such as search engines, to prevent children accessing high impact content like pornography, suicide or eating disorder material.”
The world-first law is anticipated to bring some challenges as it enters its “test and learn” period.
However, other countries are inspired by its sentiment.
“Denmark, Greece, Romania, France, New Zealand, Malaysia, the European Commission have all signalled intent to introduce a minimum age for social media,” said Wells.
“I’ve met with leaders from across the globe and political spectrum who are equal parts fascinated and motivated by what Australia is doing.
“American social psychologist and author of the book, The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt said Australia’s law, our law, “is by far the most important single piece of legislation ever enacted on planet Earth to protect children in the internet age.”
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