Australia’s Ban on Social Media for Under 16s Faces Teething Problems on Day One
Instagram has warned under 16s that their accounts will be closed
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Australia’s groundbreaking ban on social media for individuals under 16 years old has officially taken effect, but the initial day of implementation has revealed some challenges. Some children have managed to bypass age-verification technology meant to prevent them from accessing their accounts.
The ban has garnered support from many parents who anticipate a reduction in online bullying, increased outdoor activities, and decreased exposure to inappropriate content. However, criticism has emerged suggesting that the ban may prove ineffective and counterproductive, accompanied by a plethora of satirical memes mocking the new regulation.
Andrew Hammond from consultancy firm KJR in Canberra, who spearheaded a trial of age verification for the Australian government, closely monitored the developments. He has conversed with parents whose children should be affected by the ban but have not yet lost access to their accounts. Hammond acknowledges that some individuals have found ways to circumvent the restrictions, but he anticipates more accounts will be deactivated in the coming days.
Meta, the parent company of popular social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, confirmed that it initiated the process of disabling accounts approximately a week ago. A Meta spokesperson stated, “As of today, we have disabled all accounts belonging to individuals under 16 years old. Meta has restricted access to Instagram, Threads, and Facebook for teenagers under 16 and will prevent new users in that age group from creating accounts.”
Although Meta did not disclose the exact number of accounts deactivated, previous data indicated that there are roughly 150,000 13- to 15-year-olds on Facebook and about 350,000 on Instagram in Australia. This suggests that the accounts of at least half a million young Australians have been removed from these platforms.
The company affirms its commitment to complying with legal requirements. However, on the first day of the ban, several concerns raised by community groups and parents are materializing. These include isolating vulnerable teenagers from online support communities, driving them towards less regulated platforms on the internet, inconsistent age verification methods, and a lack of interest in compliance from some teenagers and parents.
Hammond highlights lingering uncertainties, such as the protocol for teenagers under 16 visiting or studying in Australia. The government has clarified that the law applies to visiting teenagers as well. While Australian residents are having their accounts deleted, visitors may have their accounts suspended temporarily. Hammond emphasizes that it is still early in the ban’s enforcement, and there is much to unfold in terms of its practical implementation.
As the ban takes full effect, Hammond and observers worldwide are keen to see the outcomes. The real test lies in how dedicated individuals under 16 are to social media. If social media is deeply ingrained in their lives, attempts to circumvent the ban may escalate, but if not, they may engage in alternative activities like outdoor sports and social interactions.
