The amendment to the Online Security Act imposes an obligation on technology companies to verify the age of users. In practice, this means the need to use methods such as selfie analysis, sending identity documents or linking an account with a bank.
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In case of violations, liability rests with companies, which may be fined up to AUD 49.5 million (PLN 120 million). The government explains that the regulations are intended to protect young people from addiction to social media and their negative impact on mental health.
Youth between acceptance and circumvention of the ban
The new regulations have sparked mixed reactions among teenagers. The BBC material gave one positive example, Amy, a 14-year-old Australian girl. She admitted that the ban allowed her to free herself from the pressure of social media. “I used to Snapchat my friends after school, but now that I can't do that anymore, I went for a run,” she said. But this is not the reaction of all minors.
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In the first days after the ban, the number of downloads of applications not covered by regulations, such as Lemon8, Yope and Discord, increased. VPNs have also gained popularitywhich allow you to hide your location and bypass restrictions. The government quickly responded by requiring platforms to detect such activities. Lemon8, after self-assessment, decided to introduce age verification, and Yope was asked to take similar actions, writes CNBC.
Technology giants criticize the regulations, Meta blocked accounts
Technology companies, although they comply with the new regulations, do not hide their skepticism towards the ban. Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, announced that In Australia, over 500,000 were blocked. accounts of persons under 16 years of age. At the same time, the company indicated that age verification should be implemented at the level of application stores, because young people still have access to many platforms not covered by the ban.
Reddit filed a lawsuit against the Australian government. The company argues that the regulations restrict young people's freedom of speech and cut them off from communities where they can participate in political or educational discussions. “Children's political views influence the choices made by many current voters,” it said in a statement sent to CNBC.
Other countries are considering similar solutions
The Australian regulations have attracted the attention of politicians from other countries and it is a testing ground for the idea to be taken up by others. In Great Britain, the Prime Minister KeirStarmer expressed concern about the amount of time children spend in front of screens and called for the introduction of similar regulations. In the United States, according to a Fox News poll, 64 percent voters support social media ban for teenagers and limiting the use of mobile phones in schools.
Australia was the first country in the world to decide on such extensive restrictions on access to social media for young people.
