Starting December 10, 2023, children under the age of 16 will be banned from using social networks in Australia. This new law prohibits the creation of accounts for minors and mandates that existing accounts be either deactivated or deleted. The implementation of this law raises numerous concerns regarding the enforcement of compliance, placing technology companies and minors in a challenging position.
Implications for Social Media Platforms
Technology companies are bracing for significant changes as they will bear responsibility for ensuring compliance with this new legislation. Failure to comply could result in hefty fines, potentially reaching up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately 28 million euros). Major platforms, including Google, which owns YouTube—a popular site among young users—have voiced concerns. They argue that the ban may inadvertently hinder parental oversight as minors will no longer be able to initiate their own accounts. According to an executive from Google, this will prevent parents from applying controls such as setting appropriate content filters or blocking specific channels.
Minors' Responses to the Ban
In anticipation of the law, some young users have resorted to creating accounts with false ages, while others have opted to share account management with their parents. These actions effectively undermine the intention of the law, creating opportunities for unrestricted access to various content. Additionally, a legal challenge has emerged: two 15-year-olds, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Australia, arguing that the law infringes upon their constitutional right to political communication. Libertarian Party MP John Ruddick, who is supporting their case, highlighted broader implications, noting that the law could force all users to verify their age and identity to access social platforms.
Challenges in Age Verification
A central concern regarding the new legislation involves the method of age verification. The Australian government places the onus on social media platforms to enforce compliance, meaning companies will need to adopt age verification systems. However, the effectiveness and feasibility of these systems remain uncertain. Additionally, tech-savvy users might easily circumvent these restrictions by using virtual private networks (VPNs), allowing them to access platforms without age checks.
Focus on Mental Health
Statistics reveal the urgent need for such legislative measures. A study commissioned by the Australian government noted that 96% of children aged 10 to 15 use social networks, with 70% of them having been exposed to harmful content, including misogynistic messages, violent videos, and promotion of eating disorders. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese underscored the risks associated with excessive social media usage, particularly its impact on the physical and mental health of young people, especially girls, who are increasingly affected by negative body image portrayals and misogynistic content.
Potential Developments in Spain
In Spain, similar measures are in the pipeline. The proposed law protecting minors in digital spaces seeks to raise the minimum age for opening or using social media accounts from 14 to 16. As it moves through parliament, the Ministry of Digital Transformation is focusing on developing an age verification mechanism, which has already begun compatibility testing in collaboration with the European Commission's pilot project.
