Australia’s Child Social Media Ban Struggles as Senate Delays Fix
Australia’s child social media ban is failing, and the Senate has delayed the much-needed fix.
Seven in 10 children with accounts when the ban took effect remain on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Senators have sent the government’s enforcement bill to an eight-week inquiry.
Key Points:
- Despite initial success in removing millions of under-16 accounts, a report reveals that seven out of ten children who had accounts when the ban started are still active on restricted platforms.
- The Senate blocked amendments to strengthen the world-first child social media ban, sending the bill for an eight-week inquiry.
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized senators who opposed the amendments, warning it would give tech companies time to destroy relevant documents.
The Issues:
The current law empowers the eSafety Commissioner to demand information from platforms but not documents. The blocked amendments aimed to close this gap, allowing for compelling internal records and communications related to platform compliance with the ban.
The proposed changes also included:
- Allowing the commissioner to demand information from third parties involved in age verification.
- Doubling maximum fines from A$49.5 million to A$99 million.
Background:
The ban, implemented in December, prohibits children under 16 from having accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. While initially effective, enforcement challenges have emerged. The eSafety Commissioner is considering court action against major platforms for non-compliance.