Social Media Ban Ineffective: Children Using Instagram and YouTube by Hiding Their Age; Here’s What the Australian Government Will Do Next..
Australia Social Media Ban: Australia implemented a social media ban for children under 16, aiming to protect them from potential mental and physical harm online; however, a recent study published in the *British Medical Journal* surprised the government. The study revealed that the initial impact of the law was limited. Despite the ban, a large number of teenagers continue to freely use platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and others.
How did this come to light? According to the report, more than two-thirds (over 66%) of underage users easily bypassed the platforms' restrictions to stay online. They either misrepresented their age as over 16 or uploaded fake selfies to clear the verification systems.
Zero Impact: The study clearly stated that while the ban aimed to restrict children's access to social media and mitigate online risks, there was no observed reduction in teenagers' behavior or their social media usage.
Teen Social Media Usage: Rules Set to Become Stricter
Following the revelations of this study, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese clarified his stance while speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He stated that the government intends to ensure the laws are as robust as possible so they can withstand any potential legal challenges.
The government's primary focus now is to empower the country's internet regulator—the eSafety Commission—with sufficient authority and legal powers to take direct and strict action against platforms that violate the rules. However, the Prime Minister has not yet disclosed the specific details of the upcoming changes.
Which platforms will face stricter rules?
The law applies to major social media platforms such as Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube. These companies have been tasked with preventing children under the age of 16 from creating accounts.
Legal Challenges Persist
Controversy surrounding the law continues. Reddit has challenged the ban in Australia's High Court. The matter is currently in the preliminary hearing stage.
Will stricter laws change the situation? Experts state that a new study has made it clear that merely enacting laws is insufficient. Without robust age verification and platform monitoring, children can bypass regulations to access social media. Consequently, Australia is preparing to tackle this challenge by further tightening its laws.
**Other countries to tighten rules as well**
Meanwhile, following Australia's lead, the UK has also announced plans to toughen its regulations this month, extending the scope to include gaming and live-streaming apps.
Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells and the eSafety Commissioner have warned that they are fully prepared to take legal action against platforms that systematically violate the rules.
If a company is found to be in violation, it could face a massive fine of up to approximately 34 million US dollars—equivalent to over 280 crore Indian rupees.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
