In a similar spirit, yesterday the Australian government announced new and radical restrictions on social media access for anyone under 16. This action is intended to protect our young people on the internet. On December 10, 2023 the national initiative will officially kick off. Its goal is to help give parents more control over digital spaces. The new legislation makes it clear that platforms—notably YouTube—need to be held accountable and take serious action. Second, they need to guarantee that minor users aren’t able to sign up for age-restricted social media platforms.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government was prioritising the protection of children in our increasingly digital world. “We are prioritizing parents over platforms,” she stated, reinforcing the need for stricter regulations in light of rising concerns about youth mental health linked to social media usage. The government’s approach is the result of an understanding that online platforms can cause serious harm, including by amplifying dangerous content.
The new law will penalize social media companies with fines of as much as $49.5 million. Otherwise, they will be required to meet these standards or pay fines. The Australian government’s decision follows research from eSafety, which identified YouTube as the most widely accessed social media platform among young Australians, as well as the site where many experience online harm. This has led to concerns about the safety of children who use the platforms.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, adamantly opposes establishing a connection between youth mental health and social media. They even go so far as to claim that the evidence is insufficient to back up those assertions. In fact, earlier this month Meta announced new protections for teen accounts and new child safety features. They similarly cautioned that they would sue if included in the ban.
“That’s why we will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.” – Communications Minister Anika Wells
The government is now waiting for final recommendations from its age assurance trial for users over 16. We hope that this trial will ensure age verification measures are focused on truly protecting minors from inappropriate adult content on the internet, not harming adults.
Inman Grant, eSafety expert, came out with a fiery endorsement. He called on authorities to add YouTube to the roster of banned platforms after research revealed it posed major dangers. The eSafety research highlighted not only YouTube’s prevalence among young Australians but its role as a frequent source of online harm.
Wells articulated the government’s vision by stating, “We know that social media is doing social harm, and my government and this parliament is prepared to take action to protect young Australians.” Her remarks are indicative of a larger trend among policymakers to cut through the partisan noise and recognize that the digital landscape needs comprehensive, regulatory solutions.
The legislation’s goal is to make the online world a safer place for all children. Yet worries remain about how it will affect freedom of political expression online. Google has made similar arguments about how these restrictions are likely to negatively affect users’ rights.
“To uphold the integrity of the legislative process and protect the age-appropriate experiences and safeguards we provide for young Australians.” – Google
The Australian government sees the introduction of these regulations as an important step to protecting children online. Critics argue that some platforms, like YouTube, should not be classified as social media due to their distinct functions. A spokesperson for YouTube stated, “Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It’s not social media.”
Wells recognized the need for regulation. One thing he stressed was how easily children are able to learn these rules, to learn to avoid, and to keep going. She remarked, “Kids, God bless them, are going to find a way around this, and maybe they are all going to swarm on LinkedIn; we don’t know.”
