Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16
On November 29, 2024, Australia passed a world-first law banning social media for individuals under 16. The law mandates that platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat must take reasonable steps to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services. If they fail to comply, social media companies could face substantial fines.
This move comes in response to growing concerns about the negative impacts of social media on the mental health and safety of young people. Social media is being increasingly linked to issues like cyberbullying, mental health problems, exposure to inappropriate content, and privacy violations.
Reaction and Challenges
Criticism of the Approach: Many experts have criticized the ban as a "sledgehammer approach". For example, Matt Hatfield, executive director of Open Media, a digital rights group, believes that prohibiting young people from accessing social media might backfire. By making these platforms seem forbidden or more attractive, the ban could encourage youth to seek them out in unregulated or unsafe corners of the internet, where no protections exist.
Tech Challenges: Carmi Levy, a tech analyst, warned that implementing such a law will come with significant technical challenges. Issues such as age verification, data privacy, and potential workarounds by young users could undermine the effectiveness of the ban. Furthermore, platforms may try to simply circumvent or minimizetheir responsibility, which could result in new loopholes and challenges for regulators.
Positive Impact on Canada’s Efforts: The law is expected to influence Canada's ongoing legislative discussions about online safety. For instance, Canada’s proposed Online Harms Act (Bill C-63), which is currently in its second reading, aims to address harmful online content. However, Canadian experts seem to favor a more balanced approach rather than an outright ban, emphasizing the need for age-appropriate design and enhanced platform accountability without an all-or-nothing strategy.
Potential Impact on Youth
Connection and Identity Formation: Some experts, including Bree McEwan, a professor at the University of Toronto, argue that social media plays a significant role in youth identity formation and community building. For young people in isolated or rural communities, social media offers a critical means of finding like-minded peers and engaging in civic discourse. A blanket ban could potentially harm youth who rely on these platforms for support and connection, especially those who may not have other outlets.
Learning and Engagement: For many young people, social media serves as a valuable educational tool and a space for activism. Banning it might limit opportunities for them to engage in important conversations or learn about issues relevant to their lives. As McEwan points out, banning social media risks losing the benefits that platforms provide alongside their risks.
Response from Social Media Companies
Meta (parent company of Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok have expressed their concerns, suggesting that the ban was implemented too hastily. They argue that the advice of mental health and youth advocacy expertswas ignored. Their major concern is that the ban could push young people to unregulated parts of the internetthat lack community guidelines and safety tools.
Meta specifically argued that the law could encourage young people to circumvent the age restrictions, creating new online dangers.
What This Means for Canada
Momentum for Change: While Canada is not currently pursuing an outright social media ban for minors, the Australian move has spurred further discussions around online safety. The Online Harms Act is being developed in Canada, and it seeks to create a unified, comprehensive approach to online safety, rather than banning platforms outright.
Incremental Solutions: Experts like Matt Hatfield argue that instead of an all-or-nothing ban, a more nuanced approach is needed. For instance, the development of age-appropriate safety tools, content moderation, and platform accountability could be more effective in protecting young users while still allowing them to engage with social media safely.
Government and Platform Balance: As the Online Harms Act progresses in Canada, there is increasing pressure for greater regulation and accountability from platforms to protect young people. This includes enforcing age verification, improving content moderation, and ensuring platforms adhere to online safety standards that apply equally across the board.
Conclusion
Australia's bold step to ban social media for under-16s is a landmark move in the global conversation about online safety, and it will likely influence future policies in countries like Canada. However, there is significant debate about whether such a blunt instrument is the right solution. Critics argue that it might create new problems, while supporters believe it’s a necessary step to protect vulnerable youth. In Canada, the focus appears to be on finding a more balanced approach, combining regulation, platform accountability, and support for youth mental health rather than relying on a complete ban.
