MELBOURNE: Australia is the nation to implement a countrywide restriction on social media access for children under 16 signifying a change in policy amid the era of artificial intelligence and worries, about internet safety.
Starting December 10 leading social media platforms. Such, as Meta, TikTok and YouTube. Must legally block users under 16 from registering accounts. Unlike rules the duty will now rest squarely with the tech firms, not guardians. Firms breaching the legislation will incur penalties.
Why the ban?
The Australian government claims that the new regulation is necessary to safeguard children from such algorithms that may expose them to inappropriate or harmful content. Surveys show that the majority of Australian adults are in favour of the ban.
Nevertheless, certain specialists caution that limiting entry, to platforms could drive children to unmonitored and possibly hazardous sites.
Concerns from mental health experts
As stated by the U.S. Surgeon General along with international mental health experts, premature and intense engagement, with social media has the potential to impact regions of the developing brain associated with:
Learning
Emotional regulation
Impulse control
Social behaviour
Reward and punishment processing
Legal challenge
Two 15-year-olds have contested the law in Australia’s High Court claiming that the prohibition infringes upon their right to speech and access, to political information.
Mixed reactions
Critics recognize the dangers linked to media, gaming and prolonged screen exposure but contend that these platforms also provide advantages, in education and communication.
Amid resistance Australia’s communications minister has pledged that the government will not relent, affirming its support for parents, in safeguarding children’s safety.
The latest regulatory directives offer media firms comprehensive compliance instructions encompassing:
Identifying and disabling underage accounts
Preventing re-registration attempts
Installing systems to block circumvention
Offering accessible complaint and reporting channels
