Anthony Albanese Backs Campaign to Raise Social Media Age Limit to 16

[Social Media]

 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind a campaign aimed at increasing the minimum age for registering social media accounts from 13 to 16, citing the harmful effects of online engagement on young people's mental health. This move comes in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children and adolescents, with Albanese emphasizing the need for teenagers to have more time to develop without the pressures of the online world.

 

Albanese made his stance clear during an interview on Nova FM radio, where he underscored the negative consequences of excessive social media use for young Australians. “What we want is our youngest Australians spending more time outside playing sport, engaging with each other in a normal way and less time online,” he stated. Highlighting the often harmful nature of social media interactions, Albanese remarked, “It can be devastating,” adding that even adults, including himself, can find the online commentary overwhelming.

 

The campaign, known as "36 months," advocates for raising the social media registration age by three years, arguing that this delay would provide children with additional time to mature without being influenced by social media. Nova FM has initiated a petition supporting this cause, which Albanese has endorsed, though he refrained from signing it personally, suggesting it was ultimately directed at his office.

 

The campaign to increase the minimum age for social media accounts has garnered widespread support, including from state premiers in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales. Independent Senator David Pocock also voiced his support, emphasizing that children are losing their childhoods due to the addictive nature of social media platforms. “Teachers and parents are raising their concerns with me and calling for action from the government,” Pocock said.

 

In alignment with these concerns, the Australian government has allocated $6.5 million in its recent budget for an age assurance trial. This initiative, to be overseen by the office of the eSafety commissioner, aims to explore effective methods for verifying users' ages on various websites, particularly those containing adult content. However, specific details about how this trial will function, including which sites will be included and whether social media platforms will be part of the trial, have yet to be disclosed.

 

Currently, social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old to create an account, but this restriction is easily bypassed. Companies like Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) have implemented additional measures to identify underage users, such as analyzing behavioral patterns and using age verification technologies. Instagram, for instance, offers age verification options like uploading an ID, using a video facial age estimator, or having another over-18 account vouch for the user.

 

The UK has already implemented age assurance legislation, which serves as a potential model for Australia. The UK scheme mandates that adult sites verify users' ages through methods such as checking with banks, mobile providers, or credit card companies, or requiring users to upload an ID or photo for facial age estimation. This approach, though still in its early stages, is seen as a robust method for ensuring age compliance.

 

During a previous parliamentary inquiry on online safety, Meta defended its current age limit of 13, stating that it strikes a balance between protecting users' privacy, wellbeing, and freedom of expression. “As per our terms, we require people to be at least 13 years old to sign up for Facebook or Instagram,” a Meta representative said. Albanese acknowledged the complexities involved in implementing effective age restrictions online. “We want to make sure that any changes that are made actually work,” he said. “You don’t want them being circumvented around the side door, if you like. And the internet is difficult – we know that’s the case – to provide any restrictions.”

As the debate continues, the Australian government’s efforts to protect young people from the potentially harmful effects of social media will be closely watched, both by supporters who see the necessity of such measures and by critics who question their feasibility and impact on privacy.

 

Credit: Sky News 2024-05-22

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

30 minutes ago, Social Media said:

campaign aimed at increasing the minimum age for registering social media

AN should introduce a minimum IQ level for members allowed to post here on its forums. 

 

IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a measure of your ability to reason and solve problems.

 

Some members here lack problem solving skills and prefer to abuse others rather than enter into a discussion. 

 

[JonnyF]

Once again, censorious left wing politicians trying to take over the job of parenting from the parents.

 

Here's an idea, how about you stay out of people's lives and focus on doing your own job properly? 

[Purdey]

On 5/22/2024 at 3:38 AM, Social Media said:

checking with banks, mobile providers, or credit card companies, or requiring users to upload an ID or photo for facial age estimation.

Who would be stupid enough to provide photo ID to a porn site?