Australia: authorities ban access to social networks for under-16s

Sylvie Clair / November 30, 2024

 

On Thursday, the Australian Parliament approved legislation banning access to social networks for people under the age of 16, one of the world's strictest measures in this area for platforms such as X, Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook. The text, which has received the green light from both chambers of parliament and support from the main parties, should soon oblige these platforms to take “reasonable measures” to prevent these teenagers from having an account. Failure to do so will result in fines of up to A$50 million. The bill was given the go-ahead by the Australian Senate on Thursday, following that of the Lower House the day before, and there is no doubt that it will come into force. Young Australians are already expressing their intention to circumvent the ban.

   

On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world. But the exact contours of its application remain unclear. The text provides almost no details on how it will be applied, so much so that some experts have expressed doubts about the technical feasibility of the ban, and question its symbolic nature. Tech companies will have at least a year to comply with the new obligation, while Australian regulators clarify the details of the law's application. Certain platforms such as WhatsApp and Youtube, which teenagers might need to do their homework, should also be exempt.