Australia’s “world-leading” social media ban is now in effect – but D-Day wasn’t without hitches. Source: SBS News.
Children aged under 16 woke up yesterday to find they had been locked out of their accounts – a year after legislation passed parliament with bipartisan support.
But perhaps not all of them. There were reports that under-16s could still register for accounts on several of the 10 platforms required to comply with the restrictions.
On what Anthony Albanese said was a “proud day” to be Prime Minister, the ban, which has captured global attention, made headlines across the world. It was covered by the New York Times, the BBC, and carried in news bulletins from India to Italy.
Mr Albanese, Communications Minister Anika Wells, and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant all conceded that, while the ban would not be perfect in its early stages and there would be “teething issues”, it would change lives..
“Make no mistake – this reform will change lives,” Mr Albanese said in Sydney while at an event marking the ban.
“For Australian kids, and allowing them to just have their childhood. For Australian parents, enabling them to have greater peace of mind. But also for the global community, who are looking at Australia, and saying: ‘well, if Australia can do it, why can’t we?’.”
More than 200,000 TikTok accounts had been deactivated, according to Ms Wells, who said that while some may have circumvented the ban on day one, it did “not mean they can avoid it in a week’s time or a month’s time”.
“Because these social media platforms have to go back and routinely check under-16s’ accounts,” Ms Wells told reporters.
Some platforms, such as YouTube, will still be accessible without an account, but it will be harder for algorithms to target content to children.
The Government says the onus is on social media companies, not parents, to enforce the ban.
Little-known social media apps Lemon8, Yope and Coverstar remain accessible and have shot to the top of Apple’s App Store charts.
But the Government has warned that the list of banned apps is dynamic and could expand to include others.
FULL STORY
Australia’s teen social media ban: How day one unfolded – and the world’s response (By David Aidone, Cameron Carr, SBS News)
