Social Media Firms Urged to Enforce Australia's Under-16 Ban
The world's largest social media companies are not adequately preventing children in Australia from accessing their platforms, according to the country's internet regulator, despite legislation enacted late last year.
The law prohibits individuals under the age of 16 from using 10 specified platforms. However, Australia's eSafety Commissioner has expressed
"significant concerns"regarding the compliance of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
The ban was supported by campaigners and the government as a necessary measure to protect children from harmful content and addictive algorithms. It is also being closely observed internationally, with countries such as the UK considering similar legislation.
Regulator's First Report Highlights Poor Practices
In its initial report since the ban's implementation in December, the regulator identified
"a number of poor practices"among the five platforms. Limited data has been shared since the ban took effect. In January, the regulator announced that 4.7 million accounts had been restricted or removed within the first month following the law's commencement on December 10.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated,
"While social media platforms have taken some initial action, I am concerned through our compliance monitoring that some may not be doing enough to comply with Australian law."
The regulator, which had previously been monitoring compliance, now plans to enforce the restrictions and collect evidence.
Inman Grant explained,
"The evidence must establish the platform has not taken reasonable steps to prevent children aged under 16 from having an account. That means more than simply demonstrating some children do still have accounts. Rather, the evidence must show the platform has not implemented appropriate systems and processes."
The BBC has reached out to all relevant social media companies for comment.
Responses from Social Media Companies
A spokesperson for Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads, affirmed the company's commitment to compliance, stating it is
"committed to complying with Australia's social media ban". The spokesperson also noted that accurate age verification is a
"challenge for the whole industry"and emphasized that
"robust age verification and parental approval"at the app store level is the most effective method to protect young users.
Snap Inc., developer of Snapchat, reported having locked 450,000 accounts and indicated they
"continue to lock more every day".
Ongoing Use Despite the Ban
Although Australia's ban was introduced with significant attention, it is widely recognized that many under-16 users continue to access the 10 platforms covered by the law: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and streaming services Kick and Twitch.
During a visit to a Sydney school last month, the BBC observed that most students who used social media prior to the ban still had access. Some students reported not being asked to verify their age, while others described circumventing age verification measures.
One student noted that among 180 girls in her year group, only three were aware of peers who had been removed from platforms.
Public Support and Criticism
Parents across Australia have generally supported the policy, finding government backing helpful when negotiating with pre-teens eager to join social media platforms.
However, critics including technology experts and child wellbeing advocates argue that educating children about potential harms is preferable to outright bans. Questions have also been raised about the enforceability of the ban and concerns that it unfairly excludes minority groups such as rural youth, disabled teenagers, and LGBTQ+ individuals, who are more likely to find community online.
Commissioner's Remarks on Cultural Change
On Tuesday, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant remarked that the reform is
"unwinding 20 years of entrenched social media practices".
She added,
"Durable, generational change takes time - but these platforms have the capability to comply today."
Inman Grant emphasized the role of parents as key partners in this cultural shift:
"While the onus is on age-restricted platforms to take reasonable steps to keep children under 16 from having accounts, parents are proving pivotal partners in this cultural reset.
We have heard from parents who have said the law is empowering them to say no to requests by their kids to have social media accounts.
Any cultural change that pushes against the powerful interests and revenue potential of entrenched industry players - whether car manufacturers, Big Tobacco or Big Tech. Those players will push back but we continue to push ahead."
