Australia Passes Law Banning Under-16s from Social Media
A new law in Australia has banned under-16s from using social media, sparking concerns among experts and a teenage news boss. The legislation, approved by parliament, orders social media firms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from having accounts. The law comes into effect after a year and fines social media firms up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for “systemic breaches”.
Leo Puglisi, 17, who founded the national news streaming platform 6 News, has spoken out against the law, calling it a “really bad idea” that will stifle young people’s creativity. Puglisi’s channel, which has 29,600 subscribers, is run by a team of 10 reporters, including some under-16s who use social media to communicate and publish content.
Experts have cautioned that the ban may push young people into unsafe and unregulated parts of the web. Griffith University social media expert Susan Grantham said the government had opted for a “quick fix” and that the ban may be detrimental to young people’s mental health. However, others have praised the law, saying it is an important step towards protecting young people’s mental health.
The law has also raised concerns about how it will be enforced, with almost no details provided on how social media firms will be expected to comply. Many of 6 News’ viewers engage with the channel through social media, and Puglisi is worried that the ban could make things “really tough” for his team. Despite the challenges, Puglisi has vowed that 6 News will continue to operate, saying “6 News is definitely not going anywhere”.