November 18th 2024.
For quite some time now, there has been a lot of discussion about creating a social media platform specifically for children under 16 years of age. And recently, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that it will soon be made into a federal law. However, there are still many unanswered questions about how this ban will actually be implemented.
One of the biggest concerns is how social media companies will be able to verify the age of their users. Some platforms simply rely on users declaring their age, while others have more advanced methods like Meta's systems for detecting age. To tackle this issue, the Australian government has awarded a contract to a UK-based organization to test different age-verification technologies. This will help in enforcing the social media ban and also blocking access to pornography for individuals under 18 years of age. The organization, called Age Check Certification Scheme, provides a stamp of approval for various age-detection methods and claims to be able to test a wide range of systems, including biometrics, database lookups, and AI-based solutions.
The trials for these technologies are set to begin immediately and a final report will be presented to the government next year. However, the specifics of the trial and the recommendations made by the organization are not yet known. It is also unclear which social media platforms will be affected by this ban, but it is likely that popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok will be included. YouTube may also be banned, but there is a possibility that YouTube Kids will be exempt. As for Snapchat, which is often considered a social media platform, there is no confirmation yet on whether it will be included in the ban or not. The company argues that it is primarily a messaging platform and not a social media network.
Many are wondering when this ban will actually come into effect. With only two weeks left in the federal parliament's sitting this year, it is possible that the Labor government, with support from the opposition, could bring it into law before the end of the year. However, the government's contract for testing age-verification strategies is expected to return its report by mid-2025, which means that it may take several months before the ban is actually implemented.
There are also doubts about the effectiveness of this social media ban. Different countries have tried similar bans with varying levels of success. In the UK, social media access is restricted for children under 13, while in France, the age limit is 15 years old. In China, a ban on young children accessing the internet on mobile phones between 10pm and 6am was proposed in 2023. Some experts argue that blanket bans for underage individuals do not work and it is likely that Australia will face similar challenges.
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