Australia is set to implement a groundbreaking social media ban for users under the age of 16 starting on December 10, 2023. This initiative, described as a world-first, requires digital platforms to deactivate accounts held by users under 16 and to prevent new accounts from being created by this age group. The Australian government aims to create a safer online environment for children, and the eSafety Commissioner has mandated that platforms take “reasonable steps” to comply, or face hefty fines of up to $49.5 million.
Details of the Ban and Affected Platforms
The list of platforms affected by this ban includes major social media services such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. Notably, Threads is also included, as it requires an Instagram account for access. The government has indicated that this list is dynamic; additional platforms could be added as new services emerge that may attract underage users.
There are exceptions to the ban. Platforms such as Roblox, YouTube Kids, Discord, and educational tools like Google Classroom and LinkedIn are not included in the restrictions. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stated that platforms will need to assess their own risk levels and determine their compliance.
Age Verification Methods and User Options
The responsibility for verifying user ages falls primarily on the platforms. The government has specified that requesting identification cannot be the sole method of age verification. For instance, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has not disclosed its verification methods, citing concerns that such information could enable users under 16 to evade the ban.
Other platforms have chosen different approaches. Snapchat will assess users based on their account behavior and self-reported birth dates. TikTok plans to use a combination of technology and human moderation to remove accounts belonging to underage users. YouTube will determine age based on the information associated with Google accounts and other signals.
Users under 16 are not automatically losing access to all their content. For instance, Facebook and Instagram users can choose to download their photos and messages, placing their accounts on hold until they turn 16. TikTok also offers options for deactivation or deletion of accounts, while Snapchat plans to implement a “frozen state” for accounts, allowing users to reactivate them once they are of age.
Appealing Misidentifications and Potential Delays
Individuals over 16 who are mistakenly flagged as underage will have an appeals process available. For Meta platforms, this will involve a facial verification check via Yoti or submitting a government-issued ID. Similarly, Snapchat will allow users to appeal through various methods, including a bank card check or a selfie for facial age estimation.
The rollout of this ban has not been without controversy. John Ruddick, a member of the New South Wales Parliament, has initiated a high court challenge on the grounds of freedom of political communication. Additionally, a parliamentary committee has suggested delaying the implementation of the ban by six months, but the government has shown no signs of postponing the launch date.
As the December 10 deadline approaches, the Australian government has stated that while they expect compliance, they do not anticipate a flawless execution on the first day. Inman Grant emphasized that there would be a graduated approach to enforcement, focusing initially on platforms with the highest proportions of underage users.
With this new measure, Australia is taking a significant step in regulating social media access for children, setting a precedent that could influence similar policies worldwide.
