Australia toughens kids' social media ban, doubles potential penalties for tech firms
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal this week, which looked at 408 adolescents, 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using…
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Summary
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal this week, which looked at 408 adolescents, 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect. The statement said that since the ban has been put in place more than 5 million under-16 accounts have been deactivated or restricted. Two-thirds of underage users stayed online by self-declaring an age over 16 or posting a selfie that the platform accepted as over 16, it said.
Furthermore, The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account. Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a ground-breaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use. Under the changes, the maximum penalty for systematic failures to uphold the ban jumps to A$99 million ($68 million) from A$49.5 million.
In addition, Message board website Reddit is separately challenging the ban in Australia's highest court, seeking to overturn it on free speech grounds. "Based on the regular updates I receive from the eSafety Commissioner, it is clear to me that social media platforms are adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by," Minister for Communications Anika Wells said in the statement.
Cross-referenced from 4 sources.
Factual coreconfirmed by several independent voices
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal this week, which looked at 408 adolescents, 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect.
reliability low1/3 sourcesThe statement said that since the ban has been put in place more than 5 million under-16 accounts have been deactivated or restricted.
reliability low1/3 sourcesTwo-thirds of underage users stayed online by self-declaring an age over 16 or posting a selfie that the platform accepted as over 16, it said.
reliability low1/3 sourcesThe government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account.
reliability low1/3 sourcesAustralia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a ground-breaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use.
reliability low1/3 sourcesUnder the changes, the maximum penalty for systematic failures to uphold the ban jumps to A$99 million ($68 million) from A$49.5 million.
reliability low1/3 sourcesMessage board website Reddit is separately challenging the ban in Australia's highest court, seeking to overturn it on free speech grounds.
reliability low1/3 sources"Based on the regular updates I receive from the eSafety Commissioner, it is clear to me that social media platforms are adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by," Minister for Communications Anika Wells said in the statement.
reliability low1/3 sources
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Australia's six-month-old ban is being closely watched by many nations seeking to emulate it due to concerns about the impact of social…
omitted byCentercovered byPublic / AgenciesThe government reiterated that eSafety is actively investigating the possible non-compliance of five platforms: Meta's Instagram and…
omitted byCentercovered byPublic / Agencies
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