The unprecedented worldwide ban came into force in Australia – Millions of children lost access to social networks / What the big platforms say

Children all over Australia found themselves on Wednesday without access to their social media accounts, following an unprecedented worldwide ban, designed to protect those under 16 from addictive algorithms, online predators and digital bullies, reports CNN, quoted by news.ro.

No other nation has taken such drastic measures, and the implementation of the strict new law is being closely watched by lawmakers around the world.

The 10 banned platforms — Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Reddit, Twitch and X — say they will comply with the ban, using age-verification technology to identify under-16s and suspend their accounts, but they don't think it will make children safer.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was a “proud day” for Australia.

“This is the day Australian families take back the power from these big technology companies. They assert the right of children to be children and parents to have more peace of mind,” Albanese told ABC public television on Wednesday.

He admitted, however, that “it won't be simple”.

Under the law, platforms must prove they have taken “reasonable steps” to disable accounts used by under-16s and prevent new accounts from being opened, to avoid fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million).

Some children – and their parents – are expected to break the ban, but there are no consequences for either party.

What platforms do

Snapchat users' accounts will be suspended for three years or until they turn 16.

YouTube accounts will be automatically disconnected on December 10th. Their channels will no longer be visible, but their data will be saved so they can reactivate their accounts when they turn 16. Kids will still be able to watch YouTube without signing in.

TikTok says all accounts used by people under the age of 16 will be disabled on December 10. The company claims that it doesn't matter what email address is used or whose name is on the account – its age verification technology will determine who is using it. Content previously posted by young users will no longer be viewable. The platform also encourages parents who believe their children may have lied about their age when they opened their accounts to report them.

Twitch says that starting December 10th, no under-16s in Australia will be allowed to create new accounts on the popular live-streaming site among video game players, but current accounts held by under-16s won't be deactivated until January 9th. The company did not respond to a request to explain the delay.

Meta began removing accounts belonging to teenagers under the age of 16 from Instagram, Facebook and Threads on December 4. Users were invited to download their content, which will remain available should they wish to reactivate their account when they turn 16.

Reddit said it would suspend the accounts of users under the age of 16 and prevent new accounts from being opened.

X did not respond to questions about how he will comply with the ban, but he vehemently opposes the legislation, considering it a violation of freedom of expression.

Kick, a live streaming service similar to Twitch, did not respond to a request for comment.

What platforms are not included?

Alongside the list of banned sites is a list of platforms that are not considered part of the ban – for now. These are Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids.

The decision to skip Roblox was seen by many Australians as a puzzling choice, given recent reports that children have been targeted by adult predators within its games.

Electronic Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said talks with Roblox began in June and new controls had been agreed to be implemented this month in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, and in January in other countries.

Users will need to verify their age to activate chat features and will only be able to chat with people of a similar age.

How do platforms identify accounts of people under 16?

Banned platforms already had a clear idea of ​​who was using their services, based on the date of birth entered by users when opening an account, but the new law requires them to actively verify their age.

This has raised objections from some adult users, who are concerned that they will be asked to verify their age. The age verification technology trial earlier this year convinced the government that age verification can be done without compromising privacy.

Platforms verify age through live video selfies, email addresses or official documents. According to Yoti, an age verification company whose clients include Meta, most users choose a video selfie that uses facial data to estimate age.

How do children react?

Some are looking for alternative platforms that offer similar services and are not banned.

Yope, a photo-sharing platform, said it had attracted 100,000 new Australian users through word of mouth as the impending ban loomed. Lemon8, a TikTok-like platform also owned by ByteDance, has also been promoted among teenagers as an alternative.

Both platforms have been warned by the eSafety Commissioner. Lemon8 says he will comply with the new Australian laws, while Yope told CNN the ban doesn't apply to him because he doesn't allow sending messages to strangers.

The eSafety Commissioner states that the list of banned sites is constantly evolving and that new sites may be added as they gain popularity or offer new services.

The fluid nature of the list and the incentive for other operators to cater to millions of teenagers looking for alternatives has sparked criticism that the government has created a whack-a-mole game it will probably never win.

Youth counselors and advocacy groups are concerned that minors who rely on social media for inclusion will end up in unregulated digital spaces, where there are even fewer safeguards, and are watching closely where they go.

What will happen next?

Part of the motivation behind the ban was to get kids to spend less time online and engage more in the real world, and that's something officials plan to measure.

“We will look at everything from whether children are sleeping more, whether they are interacting more, whether they are taking less anti-depressants, whether they are reading more books, whether they are going outside to exercise,” e-safety commissioner Inman Grant told the Sydney Dialogue last week.

But she said they will also monitor unintended consequences.

“They are heading towards darker areas of the internet and what is the result?” he added.

Six experts from Stanford University's Social Media Lab will work with the e-safety commissioner to collect the data, and the entire process will be reviewed by an independent academic advisory group made up of 11 academics from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Stanford University said its approach, methods and findings will be published for review by researchers, the public and policy makers around the world.

“We hope that the evidence generated will be able to support and directly inform the decision-making process of other countries that are trying to promote the online safety of children in their jurisdictions,” the university said in a statement.