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6mo ago

Australia Enacts World-First Social Media Ban for Under-16s

The new law requires platforms to verify users' ages but raises privacy concerns with ID and facial data options.

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Students look at their phones in Melbourne on Nov. 28, 2024. Australia's lawmakers passed a bill that would ban children under 16 from social media on Friday.
A teenager uses his mobile phone to access social media, in Sydney, Australia, on November 13, 2024.
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Overview

  • Australia has become the first country to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, with the law passing on November 28, 2024.
  • Social media companies face fines of up to $32 million if they fail to enforce the age restriction, which mandates 'reasonable steps' to verify users' ages.
  • The law allows alternatives to ID verification, such as facial recognition technology, sparking privacy concerns over the use of sensitive biometric data.
  • Critics warn the ban could lead to unintended consequences, such as driving teens to unregulated platforms or isolating them socially.
  • Supporters argue the law sends a strong message to tech companies to prioritize child safety, though its effectiveness and implementation remain unclear.