The Australian government has begun a public education campaign with tips on how to wean children off social media ahead of a national 16-year age limit taking effect in December.
Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant yesterday said that information on her agency’s Web site (esafety.gov.au) explained the new laws and how to navigate them.
Starting Dec. 10, platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube could be fined up to A$50 million (US$32 million) if they do not take steps to prevent Australians younger than 16 from holding accounts.
Photo: AP
Messages raising awareness would also be shared starting tomorrow across digital channels, television, radio and billboards.
“We want children to have childhoods. We want parents to have peace of mind and we want young people — young Australians — to have three more years to learn who they are before platforms assume who they are,” Australian Minister for Communications Anika Wells said, referring to the de facto 13-year age limit for social media accounts based on US privacy legislation.
The Australian age restrictions have already proved polarizing, with some experts warning the changes would harm and protect children. More than 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter to the government last year opposing a social media age limit as “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.”
However, the laws passed with resounding support last year. The platforms had a year to figure out how to comply without foolproof technology available to verify ages.
Grant said her agency offered checklists and conversation starters about ways to make the transition, such as following an online influencer through a Web site rather than a social media account.
Australia’s move is being watched closely by countries that share concerns about social media impacts on young children.
Danish Ambassador to Australia Ingrid Dahl-Madsen said her government would use its presidency of the Council of the EU to push the agenda of protecting children from social media harms.
“This is something that is a global challenge and we are all looking at how we can manage it best and we are looking to Australia and we will be looking at what Australia does,” Dahl-Madsen said. “It’s so important that Australia and Demark and the EU — we share lessons, we compare experiences and we can push forward hopefully practical progress on this.”
The Danish government last week proposed legislating an age limit of 15, but Dahl-Madsen said Denmark would consider letting parents exempt their children who were 13 to 14 years old.
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