November 29th 2024.
Australia has recently made headlines around the world with its world-first legislation that aims to protect children under the age of 16 by banning them from using social media. While many have praised the intentions behind this policy, experts from different countries have expressed doubts about its effectiveness.
Andrew Przybylski, a professor at Oxford University, shared his concerns about how this age limit will be enforced. He stated that there is no clear plan in place and that the technology used to estimate ages is flawed. He also mentioned that other countries, such as South Korea, have tried similar approaches but found that they did not work and did not bring any positive changes to the well-being of young people.
David Ellis, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Bath, believes that Australia's laws are doomed to fail. He pointed out that teenagers, who are the main target of this policy, have not been included in the debate and will most likely find ways to bypass the ban using technologies like VPNs. He also mentioned that the definition of social media is unclear, making it difficult to enforce the law effectively.
Tech journalist and former Facebook and Instagram employee, Will Guyatt, shared his thoughts on the potential consequences of this policy. He believes that social media platforms may choose to leave Australia rather than deal with the hassle of complying with the strict regulations and facing hefty fines. He also mentioned that Australia is not the largest market for these platforms, so they may not see it as a priority to comply.
Przybylski also raised concerns about the human rights implications of this policy and how it may conflict with international law. He stated that young people have a right to information, and a large percentage of them rely on social media for news. He compared this ban to the security measures at airports, saying that it may not necessarily make things safer and could be considered more of a performance than an actual solution.
However, the reaction to Australia's laws was more balanced when NBC interviewed young people in Europe. While some expressed their disagreement with the ban, others saw it as a positive step in protecting children from the dangers of social media.
One young woman from Madrid stated that she is strongly against the ban and believes that restricting the use of social media will not help young people. On the other hand, a Londoner said that they support the ban as it will keep kids off social media for as long as possible, even if it is enforced forcefully.
Not everyone was as calm and collected in their response, with one person calling the ban "crazy" and stating that young people today would not know how to live without social media. It is clear that this issue is a divisive one, with people having different opinions on the effectiveness and necessity of this ban.
The ban is set to come into effect late next year, and only time will tell if it will have the desired impact on protecting children online. In the meantime, stay informed by downloading the 9News app, which will keep you updated on all the latest news, sports, politics, and weather, and send notifications straight to your smartphone. The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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