Key Takeaways
- Over 4.7 million social media accounts held by children have been deactivated since new age limits took effect in Australia.
- Social media companies are required to provide data to the eSafety Commissioner to ensure compliance with the new laws.
- Meta has removed over 550,000 children from its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, to comply with the ban.
- The Australian government has introduced fines of up to $50 million for social media companies that do not take "reasonable steps" to restrict under-16s from holding an account.
- Several countries, including the UK, are considering following Australia’s lead in introducing similar age restrictions on social media.
Introduction to the New Age Limits
The Australian government has introduced new age limits on social media, requiring platforms to restrict access to users under the age of 16. The new laws, which took effect on December 10, have resulted in the deactivation of over 4.7 million social media accounts held by children. The eSafety Commissioner has been tasked with ensuring that social media companies comply with the new laws, and preliminary analysis has found that companies are making "meaningful attempts" to prevent underage users from holding accounts.
Compliance with the New Laws
Social media companies have been required to provide data to the eSafety Commissioner to ensure compliance with the new laws. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has removed over 550,000 children from its platforms to comply with the ban. The company has criticized the age restriction, arguing that it has isolated vulnerable teens from support in online communities and driven them to less regulated apps. Despite these criticisms, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that the data is "encouraging" and that social media companies are making a "meaningful effort" to comply with the laws.
Impact of the New Laws
The deactivation of over 4.7 million social media accounts has been hailed as a "huge achievement" by Communications Minister Anika Wells. The government has acknowledged that there is still "more work to do" to ensure that all social media companies are complying with the new laws. The eSafety Commissioner is continuing to monitor the data to determine what it shows in relation to individual platforms’ compliance. Social media companies face fines of up to $50 million if they do not take "reasonable steps" to restrict under-16s from holding an account.
Methods of Age Verification
Social media companies have a range of methods to verify a user’s age, including through government-issued ID, facial age estimation or age inference. All companies must offer at least one alternative to submitting formal ID as a form of age assurance. The use of these methods is aimed at preventing underage users from creating accounts and ensuring that social media companies are complying with the new laws.
International Interest in the New Laws
The introduction of age restrictions on social media in Australia has sparked interest from other countries. The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has indicated that he is open to introducing similar laws, while UK Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to raise the "age of consent" if elected. Several other countries are also considering following Australia’s lead in introducing age restrictions on social media. The Australian government has been praised for taking a proactive approach to protecting children online, and its laws are being seen as a model for other countries to follow.
Conclusion
The introduction of age restrictions on social media in Australia has resulted in the deactivation of over 4.7 million social media accounts held by children. Social media companies are required to provide data to the eSafety Commissioner to ensure compliance with the new laws, and preliminary analysis has found that companies are making "meaningful attempts" to prevent underage users from holding accounts. The Australian government has been praised for taking a proactive approach to protecting children online, and its laws are being seen as a model for other countries to follow. As the eSafety Commissioner continues to monitor the data, it is likely that social media companies will face increased scrutiny to ensure that they are complying with the new laws and protecting children online.
