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Australia's teen social media ban faces a new wildcard: teenagers

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1m ago

Australia's teen social media ban faces a new wildcard: teenagers

Australia's proposal to ban under-16s from social media is facing skepticism due to teenagers' tech savviness potentially circumventing age verification methods. The trial involved testing various age-checking tools with mixed results. Critics, including tech firms and child protection advocates, question its effectiveness. From December, platforms face hefty fines if they fail to block underaged users. Globally, other nations are observing Australia’s approach as they consider similar regulations to protect young users’ mental and physical health.

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Australian social media ban started with call to act by politican's wife

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

Australian social media ban started with call to act by politican's wife

Frances Haugen's revelations about social media's impact on mental health, along with a book by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, prompted Australia's second-smallest state, South Australia, to take action against social media addiction in youths. South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas introduced a ban for social media use for those under 16, which quickly gained support and led to a nationwide ban. The move reflects the growing concern over the effects of social media on teenagers' mental health, and the legislation is seen as a milestone in addressing this issue globally. The ban will take effect one year after its passing.

Social media ban for children younger than 16 introduced in Australia's Parliament

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

Social media ban for children younger than 16 introduced in Australia's Parliament

Australia's communications minister has proposed a new law that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, and Instagram. The aim is to safeguard children from harmful content. Platforms that fail to enforce this age restriction could be fined up to 50 million Australian dollars. The bill has received widespread political support. However, critics argue that the ban could isolate teenagers from their existing online networks. In addition to the social media ban, Australia is also exploring ways to prevent minors from accessing online pornography.

Australian children able to bypass age limit set by social media platforms, report shows

Economic Times

Economic Times · 5m ago

Australian children able to bypass age limit set by social media platforms, report shows

A report by Australia's online safety regulator revealed that children in Australia are easily bypassing age limits set by social media platforms, despite an upcoming government ban for users under 16. The study found 80% of children aged eight to 12 use social media, with YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat being most popular. Social media companies primarily rely on self-declared ages, posing challenges for enforcing age restrictions ahead of the 2025 ban.

Meta launches new teen safety features, removes 635,000 accounts that sexualise children - The Economic Times

Economic Times

Economic Times · 16d ago

Meta launches new teen safety features, removes 635,000 accounts that sexualise children - The Economic Times

Meta has launched new safety features to protect teenagers on its platforms and removed 635,000 accounts linked to inappropriate interactions with minors. The measures aim to enhance teen safety by allowing easier reporting and blocking of harmful accounts. Meta is also employing AI to verify users' ages and convert them into teen accounts if misrepresented. This comes as Meta faces scrutiny and lawsuits over its impact on youth mental health.

Australia revokes exemption to add YouTube to teen social media ban - The Economic Times

Economic Times

Economic Times · 9d ago

Australia revokes exemption to add YouTube to teen social media ban - The Economic Times

Australia has included YouTube in its social media ban for teenagers, previously exempting the site due to its educational use. The move addresses concerns over harmful content encountered by minors, sparking potential legal challenges from YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized protecting children from negative online impacts. YouTube disputes its classification as social media, highlighting its video-sharing nature. The ban, effective December, aims to enhance online safety for Australian children.

Australia wants to ban kids under 16 from social media as world governments seek to crack down on the 'addictive' apps

Business Insider

Business Insider · 9m ago

Australia wants to ban kids under 16 from social media as world governments seek to crack down on the 'addictive' apps

Australia is proposing a ban on social media for individuals under 16, aiming to address the harmful impact of social media on children. The law would require social media companies to prevent minors from accessing their platforms, with a 12-month grace period for compliance. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the proposed legislation puts the onus on social media companies rather than parents, emphasizing the need to protect children from the negative effects of social media. This announcement follows similar measures taken in the US and UK, as concerns of social media addiction and its impact on mental health continue to grow. However, critics argue that the ban may be too broad and could impede access to critical services for young people.

French president Emmanuel Macron to push for ban on social media for under-15s after school stabbing

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1m ago

French president Emmanuel Macron to push for ban on social media for under-15s after school stabbing

French President Emmanuel Macron plans to advocate for EU regulations to ban social media for under-15s following a fatal stabbing at a French school. He emphasized the need for swift action, citing social media as a contributing factor to youth violence. Macron pointed to Australia's stringent regulations as a model, highlighting the global trend towards restricting social media access for children. He stressed platforms' capability to verify users' ages and the urgency of implementing such measures.

Australia PM Albanese says Musk pushing agenda for X in social media ban criticism

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

Australia PM Albanese says Musk pushing agenda for X in social media ban criticism

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the country's social media ban on children under 16, in response to criticism from Elon Musk. Albanese accused Musk of pushing an agenda for the social platform, but indicated he was open to discussing the ban with him. The ban, which was approved late Thursday, is one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech and could strain Australia's relationship with the United States. The law requires tech giants to prevent minors from logging in or face hefty fines. Albanese emphasized the determination to implement the ban, which will take effect in a year.

After Australia legislated a teen social media ban, it has to figure out how to enforce it

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

After Australia legislated a teen social media ban, it has to figure out how to enforce it

Software testers hired by the Australian government to enforce a national teen social media ban will draw on their experience as parents to guide their study. The trial will involve approximately 1,200 randomly selected Australians and will test age-checking technology. The results of the trial, expected by mid-2025, will provide recommendations on reasonable steps tech platforms can take to prevent users under 16 from accessing social media. The approach taken by Australia could influence how other countries approach online age checks. The ban is driven by concerns about youth mental health and data collection.

Despite Australia's strict social media ban for minors, a YouTube exemption poses risks

Economic Times

Economic Times · 6m ago

Despite Australia's strict social media ban for minors, a YouTube exemption poses risks

Despite Australia's ban on social media for minors, YouTube is exempt due to its educational value. Experts warn this could expose children to harmful content, as YouTube hosts problematic material, including extremism and addictive media. Although the platform claims improved moderation, tests showed minors could easily access disturbing content. Critics argue YouTube's exception undermines efforts to protect young users. The government maintains the exemption aligns with community views on YouTube's educational role.

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