MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government has launched a public education campaign offering tips on how to wean children off social media ahead of the world's first national age limit of 16, which comes into effect in December.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said on Friday that information on her agency's website esafety.gov.au explained the new laws and how they would be enforced.
Starting December 10, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube could be fined up to A$50 million ($33 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to stop Australians under 16 from having accounts.
Awareness-raising messages will also be disseminated starting Sunday through digital channels, television, radio and billboards.
“We want children to have a childhood. We want parents to have peace of mind and we want young people – young Australians – to have three more years to find out who they are before the platforms figure out who they are,” Communications Minister Anika Wells told reporters, referring to the current de facto 13-year-old age limit for social media accounts. networks based on US privacy laws.
Australia's age restrictions have already caused polarization, with some experts warning the changes will harm children as well as protect them. Last year, more than 140 Australian and international scientists signed an open letter to the government opposing age limits on social media, calling them “too blunt a tool to effectively address risks.”
Despite this warning, the laws passed with vocal support last year. Platforms have had a year to figure out how to ensure compliance without reliable age verification technology.
Inman Grant said age restrictions on social media would be a “very important development for a lot of young people”.
She said her agency offered checklists and conversation starters about ways to make the transition, such as following an online influencer through a website rather than a social media account.
“How do we start weaning them off social media now so it doesn't come as a shock on December 10th? How can we help them download their archives and memories and how can we make sure they're connecting with friends and aware of mental health support if they're not feeling well when they're not glued to their phones over the holidays?” she added.
Australia's move is being closely watched by countries that share concerns about the impact of social media on young children.
Denmark's Ambassador to Australia Ingrid Dahl-Madsen said her government would use its current presidency of the Council of the European Union to push forward an agenda to protect children from the harm caused by social media.
“This is a global problem and we're all looking at how best to deal with it, and we're looking at Australia and we'll be looking at what Australia is doing,” Dahl-Madsen told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Melbourne on Monday.
“It's important that Australia, Denmark and the EU share lessons, compare experiences and can hopefully make practical progress on this issue,” she added. It was about “protecting our children in this increasingly complex digital world.”
The Danish government last week proposed legislation to set the age limit at 15 years. But Dahl-Madsen said Denmark would consider allowing parents to exempt their children aged 13 or 14 from the tax. There is no such exception in Australia.
