By enacting legislation prohibiting minors under the age of sixteen from using social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and TikTok, Australia has made history. With a vote of 34-19, the Senate passed the bill Thursday, imposing fines of up to $50 million ($33 million) on platforms that do not prohibit the creation of accounts by minors.
By a vote of 102–13 earlier this week, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives. It is anticipated that the Senate would adopt the legislation’s changes, which contain stronger privacy measures. The new rule prohibits platforms from requiring digital identity through government systems or government-issued identification documents like driver’s licenses or passports to verify age.
Before sanctions are imposed, social media companies will have a year to put in place the mechanisms necessary to execute the prohibition.
Challenges with Privacy and Implementation
The legislation’s modifications seek to enforce age limitations while bolstering privacy protections. Platforms must maintain compliance without prying too far into users’ personal information. Requiring official identification documents or other forms of identification connected to the government is expressly forbidden by law.
Worldwide Consequences
This regulation is the first of its type in the world and establishes a standard for controlling children’s use of social media. It underscores mounting worries about how social media affects kids and calls on platforms to be held accountable for user safety.
Discussions over how to strike a balance between access, privacy, and online safety have been spurred by the Act. Social media firms have voiced doubts about the law’s viability, with some arguing that the implementation schedule is too aggressive.
Next Actions
On Friday, the House of Representatives is expected to approve Senate modifications to complete the legislation. Social media companies will have to create and put into place age verification systems that adhere to the new legislation while protecting user privacy. When this transition period is over, the law will go into full force.
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