Millions of Australians aged under 16 are now banned from having social media accounts. Photo: ABC News: Maren Preuss
Australia's social media ban for people aged under 16 has officially started, marking a world-first push to protect children from phone addiction and online harms.
From now on, a group of social media platforms will face penalties of up to $50 million if they do not take "reasonable steps" to prevent children and teenagers aged under 16 from holding a social media account.
In a video address, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraged kids to "make the most of school holidays coming up, rather than spending it scrolling on your phone".
"Start a new sport, learn a new instrument or read that book that's been sitting there on your shelf for some time," he said.
"Importantly, spend quality time with your friends and your family, face to face."
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Photo: DAVID GRAY / AFP
The government's list of age-restricted apps will almost certainly grow in the coming weeks.
Australia's online safety watchdog is keeping an eye out for other platforms that fit the criteria, and tech companies are required to constantly monitor if they are likely to be captured by the restrictions at any time.
Already, social media apps Lemon8 and Yope have been put on notice after surging in popularity as young people look for alternative platforms.
And while the ban technically starts today, the government has admitted it won't be perfect.
Bipartisan support for the ban is also appearing shaky.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has increasingly cast doubt over the rollout, declaring she has "no confidence" the ban will work under Labor.
Some underage users have previously vowed to find a way around the ban, and the law only says platforms must take "reasonable steps" to prevent them from having accounts.
How a social media app determines a user's age will vary from platform to platform.
In many cases, a platform can reasonably infer someone's age by looking at how long an account has existed and by examining their posts and personal networks.
One way is to request a government-issued ID, such as a driver's licence, though platforms are prohibited from compelling users to provide ID and must offer an alternative.
Another option is to use artificial intelligence to guess someone's age based on their appearance.
Underage users might be able to reactivate their accounts once they turn 16, but that is not guaranteed, and it all depends on the platform.
Social media apps must determine if a user is too young to have an account. Photo: ABC Riverland: Shannon Pearce
Every platform is using a different approach, and it is likely some teenagers will slip through the cracks.
Besides, people under 16 will still be able to see publicly available social media content that does not require a login.
In other words, it will not be flawless.
But the Australian government insists it is worth trying anyway if it means protecting children from endless "doom-scrolling" and other harms such as cyberbullying and grooming.
Though the move is popular with many parents, some kids in regional towns say the ban will worsen isolation - particularly for LGBTQIA+ teens, who have found acceptance and support from online communities.
Two teenagers have taken their fight against the ban all the way to the High Court.
The 15-year-olds are backed by the Digital Freedom Project, which claims the laws restrict the implied right to freedom of political communication.
The group initially announced in November that they were trying to stall the laws, but the court will hear a special case next year instead.
Other young people have welcomed the ban, saying they resent the way tech companies keep them hooked by using their data to develop addictive algorithms.
Australia's social media ban marks the first time a nation has attempted to take on the big tech giants - and the world is watching closely to see how it unfolds.
The European Union is now considering similar bans, as well as proposals for a late-night "curfew", an age verification app, and limits on addictive features such as infinite scrolling and excessive push notifications.
Malaysia is set to join the list of countries restricting access to social media, with its own ban for under-16s coming into effect on January 1.
- ABC
