In a bold move to safeguard young Australians, the Labor Party introduced legislation this Thursday mandating a minimum age of 16 for social media usage. This pioneering law places the responsibility on social media companies to enforce the age limit, shifting the onus away from children, parents, and guardians.
Under the new legislation, tech firms that fail to comply with the age restriction could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($32.5 million). Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland emphasized the bill's intent, stating, \"This is about protecting young people, not punishing or isolating them, and letting parents know we're in their corner when it comes to supporting their children's health and wellbeing.\"
Rowland further explained that the legislation aims to redefine societal norms, asserting that \"accessing social media is not the defining feature of growing up in Australia.\" Notably, the bill exempts online gaming and messaging services from the ban, citing existing regulations and the potential negative impact on family communication.
The federal opposition has expressed support for the legislation, ensuring its passage through both houses of parliament with a substantial majority. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the laws will take effect at least 12 months after their approval, providing ample time for implementation.
While the government has yet to detail the methods for verifying users' ages, it plans to utilize insights from a trial of age verification technology funded in May's federal budget. Enforcement of the minimum age limit will be managed by the office of the government's eSafety Commissioner.
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Australia to penalize tech firms over social media ban for minors
cgtn.com
