Australia’s Move to Restrict Kids on Social Media: A Blueprint for the U.S.?

[Social Media]

 

Australia has taken a pioneering step in the global effort to protect children online, implementing a law that restricts minors under the age of 16 from accessing social media. This groundbreaking legislation places Australia at the forefront of online safety, with Julie Inman Grant, the nation’s eSafety Commissioner, playing a critical role in its enforcement. An American by birth and a former tech industry veteran, Inman Grant has become a central figure in this ambitious initiative, offering insights that could guide similar efforts in the United States.  

 

"For too long, the burden for safety has fallen on the parents themselves or the children, rather than the platforms," Inman Grant explained in an interview. The new law shifts the responsibility onto social media companies, requiring them to adopt measures to prevent children from accessing platforms with potentially harmful content. This comes as countries worldwide wrestle with the growing influence of the tech industry and its impact on young users.  

 

The political momentum for this legislation in Australia was significant. Driven by concerns from parents, politicians, and media campaigns advocating for stricter online safety measures, the government acted decisively. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need for social media platforms to demonstrate greater responsibility, noting that their previous efforts to protect children had been insufficient.  

 

While some refer to the new policy as a "social media ban," Inman Grant prefers the term "social media restriction bill." She highlighted its numerous exemptions, ensuring a balanced approach. "We’re not trying to cut kids off," she said, pointing to the ongoing role of messaging apps and online gaming platforms that facilitate healthy connections and problem-solving skills. However, platforms with addictive features, opaque algorithms, and harmful content are under scrutiny.  

 

Implementing the law is no small task. Verifying the age of users remains a complex challenge. "It’s not just a technological issue; it’s an ecosystem issue," Inman Grant remarked. She emphasized the importance of balancing safety with privacy, noting that methods such as biometrics, government IDs, and digital tools are being explored to enforce the restrictions.  

 

Critics, particularly social media companies, argue that the law represents government overreach and risks stifling free speech. Inman Grant counters that the legislation was driven by parental demand. "Parents feel like it’s just too hard," she said, referencing the overwhelming number of parental controls on platforms that are often difficult to navigate. The law aims to simplify this by placing the burden of safety on tech companies.  

 

The U.S. is also considering measures to protect children online, such as the Kids Online Safety Act. However, legislative efforts have stalled due to political divisions. Inman Grant believes Australia’s approach could serve as a model, advocating for proactive measures like embedding safety features into technology from the outset. She likened this to how the automotive industry evolved to include life-saving features like seat belts and airbags.  

 

Reflecting on her unique position as an American leading Australia’s online safety efforts, Inman Grant sees potential for international collaboration. "I would be absolutely delighted if the U.S. had an online safety regulator," she said, underscoring the importance of bipartisan support and a focus on harm remediation.  

 

Australia’s experiment in online safety is ambitious, but it offers valuable lessons for other nations grappling with the challenges of the digital age. By shifting responsibility onto platforms and embedding safety measures into technology, the hope is to create a safer, more accountable online environment for young users.

 

Based on a report by Politico 2024-01-04

 

 

[scorecard]

Because of quite bad incidents many schools in Thailand totally forbid teachers from helping kids to start social media accounts. 

[giddyup]

And how will the law be enforced?

[jcmj]

Kids will always find a way. Be it an older friend or brother or sister. As long as the parents keep buying their children phones they will never stop this behavior. Also schools are now making the students search the internet and teach kids with their computers. Baby sitters are now replaced by phones or computers. Unfortunately this is the new generation. 

[grain]

So what's to stop Aussie kids from using a VPN? I have a VPN in my smart TV in Thailand, it sets my location as Dallas or Seattle and I watch US YT and other free movie sites that I can't normally access in Thailand. The kids are clever with internet and work around this dumb law. 

[Watawattana]

How about setting some rules that, for example, mean the platform is charged a $1m for every post that encourages suicide or illegal drug use?  Probably a million reasons why this wouldn't work of course...