Social Media Age Restriction Rules: Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp that “To ensure that we remove young people from this social harm, we have committed to introducing legislation for age verification before the end of this year”. This is abhorrent.
We are aware that the struggles faced by many children have bad impact on their mental health. The potential for cyber bullying, the availability of content that harms society, and the desire of parents for a reaction are all factors, Albanese continued.
Legal Age for Children to use Social Media
The Australian government declared that legislation enforcing a minimum age for children to use social media would be passed this year. However, the method by which the ages will be confirmed has not yet been disclosed. The government will soon test age verification technologies, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with the goal of prohibiting minors from creating social media profiles.
The age range at which the line would be drawn is 14 to 16. Lawmakers in a number of nations and US states are working to protect kids from the negative effects of social media, such as bullying.
CPP Payment 2024: Check Eligibility, Payment Date [29th Oct] & Amount, @canada.ca
According to Lisa Given, an information technology specialist at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the government’s proposal would also prevent children from accessing helpful content. “This is an extremely blunt tool that might keep children off of some really beneficial social media resources.” A state law that would penalize social media corporations for failing to remove children under the age of 14 from their services was recently proposed in South Australia.
Analysis about Child Users on Social Media
According to IT industry data, four-fifths of Australia’s 26 million people are on social media, making it one of the most online countries in the world. The results of a 2023 University of Sydney survey showed that 75% of Australians between the ages of 12 and 17 have used YouTube or Instagram.
The announcement of Albanese’s age restriction plan came amid a parliamentary investigation into the social media’s impact on society, during which impassioned testimonies regarding the detrimental consequences of the platform on teenagers’ mental health were heard.
$784 Direct Deposit Sep 2024: Check SSI, SSDI & VA Payment Eligibility, Date & Claim Process
50000 Rs Loan Urgent: Check Benefits, Interest Rate and Application Procedure
- Regarding the possibility of enforcing a lower age limit and if doing so might unintentionally hurt younger individuals by pushing them to conceal their internet behaviour, the inquiry has also heard concerns.
- The eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s internet regulator, cautioned that “restriction-based approaches may limit young people’s access to critical support” and force them to use “less regulated non-mainstream services” in a June contribution to the investigation.
- Australia’s approach to online hazards, which can “threaten safety across a range of platforms at any age, both before and after the mid-teen years,” will be further refined through continued collaboration with stakeholders from the government and the community, the commissioner said in a statement on Tuesday.
