“I’ll still use it,” youth vow, as Australia’s social media ban on under-16s sparks anger and relief

SYDNEY – Australians reacted with a mix of anger and relief on Friday to a social media ban on children under 16 that the government says is a world-leading ban but that tech giants like TikTok argue is hurting young people in ” darker corners of the internet.” “

Australia agreed to a children’s social media ban late Thursday after an emotional debate that gripped the country, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations against Big Tech.

The law forces tech giants from Instagram to Facebook owner Meta Platforms to TikTok to ban minors from signing up or face fines of up to $32 million. A trial of enforcement methods will begin in January, with the ban set to take effect in a year.

“Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our children is their top priority,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday

“We ensure that mothers and fathers can have completely different conversations today and in the future.”

In announcing the details of the ban earlier this month, Albanese noted the risks to children’s physical and mental health from excessive social media use, particularly the risks to girls from harmful body image portrayals and misogynistic content aimed at boys .

In Sydney, reaction to the ban on Friday was mixed.

“I think this is a great idea because I’ve found that social media isn’t really suitable for children. “Sometimes they can look at something they shouldn’t see,” said Francesca Sambas from Sydney.

Others were more devastating.

“I am very angry, I feel like this government has taken over democracy and thrown it out the window,” said 58-year-old Shon Klose.

“How could they make up these rules and laws and force them on people?”

Meanwhile, children said they would try to circumvent the ban.

“I feel like I’m still going to use it, just sneak in,” said 11-year-old Emma Wakefield.

World first

Countries such as France and some US states have passed laws to restrict access for minors without a parent’s permission, but Australia’s ban is absolute. A total ban on children under 14 in Florida is being challenged in court on free speech grounds.

Albanese’s Labor Party won crucial support from the opposition Conservatives for the bill, which was fast-tracked into law as part of 31 bills pushed through the country’s parliament on a chaotic final day of the year.

The government has said sufficient warning was given when it first announced the ban following a parliamentary inquiry earlier this year which heard testimony from parents of children who had self-harmed as a result of cyberbullying.

But it has been criticized by social media companies and some lawmakers who say the bill was not properly vetted.

A spokesman for TikTok, which is popular with teen users, said Friday the process was rushed and risked putting children in greater danger.

“We are disappointed that the Australian government has ignored the advice of the many mental health, online safety and youth advocacy experts who have strongly opposed the ban,” the spokesperson said.

Albanese said Friday that passing the bill before completing the age verification process was the right approach.

“We stand with you” is our message to Australian parents,” Mr Albanese said.

“We’re not saying the implementation will be perfect, just as banning alcohol for under-18s doesn’t mean anyone under 18 will never have access, but we know it’s the right thing to do.”

The ban could strain Australia’s relations with its key ally, the United States, where X owner Elon Musk, a central figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, said in a post this month it appeared to be a “backdoor approach to “To control access to the Internet by all Australians.”

It also builds on an existing animosity between Australia and the mostly US-based tech giants. Australia was the first country to require social media platforms to pay media companies royalties for sharing their content and now plans to threaten them with fines if they fail to crack down on scams.

Contributor: Byron Kaye