Posted on 11/21/2024 3:40:02 PM PST by nickcarraway
Australia's communications minister has introduced a new bill to ban social media for minors under the age of 16. Will other countries follow suit?
Australia's government has introduced a new bill that would ban children 16 and under from using social media as part of the country's efforts to keep people safe online.
"For too many young Australians, social media can be harmful," communications minister Michelle Rowland, said in a speech to parliament.
"Almost two-thirds of 14- to 17-year-old Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online, including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm, as well as violent material," she said.
Related Problematic social media use on the rise among European youth, study says "A quarter have been exposed to content promoting unsafe eating habits".
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The legislation will apply to "age-restricted social media platforms" - a term introduced in the law - with the communications minister saying that at a minimum it would include the likes of TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
"These services will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent persons under 16 years of age from creating or holding an account," Rowland added.
Research from Australia's independent regulator for online safety found nearly half of 8- to 12-year-olds are using short-form video apps like Snapchat and TikTok while more than a third have used messaging apps.
(Excerpt) Read more at euronews.com ...
What’s the enforcement mechanism? A universal social ID?
And, what’s the penalty for underage use?
While some aspects of the proposed Idea I could get behind, what about something like youtube which has a lot of educational content on a variety of subjects as well as some really stupid and questionable content.
Maybe Australia is considering something like the old East German Stasi system. Every street and every block had their own network of police informants.
So you never knew who was watching - and reporting - you. Could be your best friend. Could be the coach of your son’s soccer team.
Side note to Australia: If you’re going to use this symbol, be sure to change the lettering and the flag.
The nanny state raises it’s ugly head.
Do the fools suggesting this understand the backlash and antigovernment feelings this will engender. This is parents’ job to police not the government’s. Social media is part of life. Like any other aspect of society parents need to educate & monitor kids giving them increasing freedom with age. There is neither magic nor a uniform standard of maturity at age 16,17 or 20.
It would be better to imprison every pedophile. This includes teachers and doctors who promote transitioning and transition surgeries. For life.
Good point.
odd way to spell censorship
It cannot be done without enforcing identification of all members, which is the real objective.
The government wants to eliminate anonymity, so they can target people with unwelcome ideas.
Everyone will have to use their real name to post on X in Australia.
Bologna slicing their way to banning social media completely. Just like gun laws. Once in place, they will keep putting more restrictions on it until it effectively goes away.
Well it’s not for adults. We don’t let 16 year-olds drink alcohol (in the U.S.), buy pornography, even drive in some states. They can get abortions without telling their parents.
To paraphrase Karl Marx, social media (and marijuana) is the opiate of the masses.
My daughter and her friend Sue flew to Australia and took a cruise around the islands, Sydney and it’s famous Opera House was wonderful, but they thought Melbourne was the most beautiful city in the world. Both world travelers, they would know.
WTF are the idiot gubmint officials up to?
Cell phones will take blood samples and if the AI program determines the user is under 16 the phone will administer an electric shock!
Lol.
Trump won because of social media.
Social media allows people to bypass official narratives to get the truth of the matter.
That's not true. Elon Musk buying Twitter in 2022 is one of the main reasons why Donald Trump was able to win in 2024.
Lets restrict big fat pencils and Big Chief Tablets too.
I loved my Big Chief Tablets.
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