### Australia's Social Media Ban: Implications for Minors and Companies

Australia's blanket ban on minors accessing social media sparks global debate on technology regulation.

### Australia Implements Social Media Ban for Minors: A Global Precedent?
* 🌏 Peter discusses the global struggle of governments regarding minors' access to social media and technology, highlighting Australia’s recent **blanket ban** as a significant move.
* 🚫 Unlike previous measures, this ban does not allow **parental permission for minors to access platforms**, which has drawn strong objections from companies like Meta, labeling it as a "**fascist step**."
* 📊 Public support for the ban is substantial, with a survey indicating that **77% of adults back the government's decision**, although critics argue that **implementation will be challenging**.
* 🛠 Companies have a **12-month window** to comply with the new regulations, and the debate continues over whether **social media companies or app stores** should take the lead in enforcement.
* 🇨🇳 Successful examples from China illustrate potential methods, such as **strict time limits for minors online**, but implementing similar measures in Australia may face hurdles due to **differing privacy concerns**.
* 🧒 Peter notes that while some parents may welcome such regulations, there is a broader question of whether this approach could **extend beyond Australia** to regions like the **U.S. and Europe**, where similar discussions are already underway.
* 🔍 Caroline raises concerns about the potential negative effects of the ban on children's mental health, suggesting that instead of outright bans, social media companies should be **held accountable for creating safer environments for minors**.
* 💡 The ongoing dilemma remains whether to trust companies to improve safety features or to impose stricter regulations, as the algorithms currently in use often lead children to **harmful content** rather than **constructive solutions**.

PETER JOINS US NOW, YOU HEAD UP
OUR TEAM IN ASIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY.
IS THIS A SEISMIC PRECEDENT? PETER:
WE HAVE SEEN GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD STRUGGLE WITH THIS
QUESTION, HOW MUCH ACCESS

SHOULD MINORS HAVE TO SOCIAL
MEDIA AND OTHER KINDS OF TECHNOLOGIES.
THEY HAVE STRUGGLED WITH HOW TO IMPLEMENT THESE CONCERNS AND
ADDRESS SOME OF THEM. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN AUSTRALIA
IS ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC

MOVES YET.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR PARENTS' PERMISSION
AND GET BACK ON. IT IS A BLANKET BAN.
COMPANIES ARE PUSHING HARD

AGAINST THIS.
META HAS OBJECTED TO THIS. FACEBOOK OF COURSE.
IT HAS BEEN CALLED A FASCIST STEP BY THE COMPANY.
THERE IS A LOT OF PUBLIC SUPPORT.
THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE

THIS STICK. CAROLINE:
IT WAS WIDELY POPULAR. 77% OF ADULTS SUPPORT THE MOVE
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY. EVERY CYNIC WOULD BE LIKE OF
COURSE META IS GOING TO PUSH

BACK AND TIKTOK WILL PUSH BACK.
THEY HAVE GROUNDS TO PUSH BACK BECAUSE THIS IS
VERY HARD TO IMPOSE AND NAVIGATE. PETER:
THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES IN

IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING LIKE
THIS. COMPANIES HAVE 12 MONTHS BEFORE
THEY HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT. THE GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING THE
BURDEN OF IMPLEMENTATION ONTO THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES.
THERE IS DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER

THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES
SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS OR WHETHER THE APP STORE
OVERSEEN BY APPLE AND GOOGLE SHOULD DO THIS INSTEAD.
THIS WILL BE SQUARELY ON THE COMPANIES TO IMPLEMENT THIS AND
TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO

DO THIS.
IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THIS. COMPANIES LOVE TO SAY IT IS
RUSHED, IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT.
GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS IN THE PAST. THE
QUESTION IS HOW YOU WILL

IMPLEMENT THE TECHNOLOGY. CHINA HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT
IMPLEMENTING GUARDRAILS AROUND HOW TEENAGERS USE TECHNOLOGY.
THAT IS A COUNTRY WHERE THE CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY ARE MUCH
LESS THAN AUSTRALIA AND THE

U.K..
THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY IMPLEMENT THIS.
IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO IMPLEMENT THIS BUT THE
GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH IT. PAUL:
THAT IS WHERE I'M COMING FROM

AS A PARENT ALTHOUGH MY KIDS
ARE GROWN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE AND CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT.
TECHNOLOGICALLY, HOW DO THEY DO IT? IS IT A PIECE OF SOFTWARE THAT
FACEBOOK COULD PUT ON THAT

FIGURES OUT YOUR AGE? PETER:
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT CHOICES.
I WILL BEGIN WITH ONE EXAMPLE FROM NORWAY.
THEY TRIED TO IMPLEMENT THIS WITH KIDS WHERE THEY TRIED TO
SET A LIMIT ON HOW YOUNG KIDS

COULD GET ONLINE BUT MORE THAN 70%
OF THEM FIGURED OUT WAYS TO GET AROUND IT, THE PARENTS AND
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES. KIDS ARE OFTEN SMARTER THAN WE
ARE IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING

THESE THINGS.
WHEN YOU HAVE SEEN IT DONE SUCCESSFULLY IN PLACES LIKE
CHINA IN PARTICULAR, YOU HAVE TO REGISTER AND HAVE AN ACCOUNT
IDENTIFIED WITH A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL.
IN CHINA THEY DON'T LET KIDS

GET ONLINE AFTER 10:00 AT NIGHT
OR BEFORE 6:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING SO YOU DON'T
HAVE KIDS USING THIS TECHNOLOGY. IT IS SOMETHING FROM A PARENT
STANDPOINT THAT YOU PROBABLY

SEE IS QUITE USEFUL IF YOU ARE
ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT. CHINA, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE
CENTRALIZED CONTROL OVER THESE THINGS, LIMITED HOW MUCH TIME
KIDS COULD SPEND ON THINGS LIKE GAMES AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOU CANNOT REALLY USE THE SAME

KINDS OF PROCEDURES IN
AUSTRALIA OR THE UNITED STATES. PAUL: YES. IN AUSTRALIA, CAROLINE WAS
GIVEN THE STATISTICS ABOUT THE SUPPORT FOR THIS.
I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT WORKING

HERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD SAY, "WAIT A MINUTE, THE
GOVERNMENT CANNOT TELL MY KIDS WHAT TO DO.
IT IS UP TO ME AS A PARENT TO DECIDE.
I GUESS AUSTRALIA IS PAST THAT."

PETER:
THE BROADER QUESTION HERE IS WHETHER THIS WILL GO BEYOND
AUSTRALIA INTO PLACES LIKE THE UNITED STATES OR EUROPE.
CERTAINLY IN EUROPE, FRANCE HAS TAKEN THE LEAD.
THEY FEEL IT IS VERY IMPORTANT

TO HAVE GUARDRAILS AROUND HOW
KIDS USE TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE HAVE SEEN LOTS OF HARM DONE TO CHILDREN THROUGH THESE
THINGS. IN THE STATES, YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL STATES THAT ARE
CONSERVATIVE THAT HAVE DONE

THIS. FLORIDA HAS BEEN THE MOST
AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT PARAMETERS AROUND THIS.
THERE ARE OTHER STATES VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW KIDS ARE
USING TECHNOLOGY. THEY SEE THAT IT IS VERY
HARMFUL.

PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS
AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT BEING DONE ON OUR KIDS WITHOUT
OUR PERMISSION AND THEY WANT PARAMETERS AROUND. CAROLINE:
I WILL PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE -- KIDS, FAIRLY -- FEEL VERY ALONE AND NEED SOCIAL MEDIA. UNICEF CAME OUT SAYING
AUSTRALIA'S BAN WOULD PUSH YOUNG PEOPLE INTO DARKER
UNREGULATED PLACES ONLINE.

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR
RIGHTS OF SEVERING ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
INSTEAD OF BANNING CHILDREN, WE SHOULD HOLD SOCIAL MEDIA
COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE. TO BE FAIR, INSTAGRAM JUST
IMPOSED SAFETY FEATURES FOR 16-YEAR-OLDS

AND YOUNGER PRIVATE ACCOUNTS,
MESSAGING RESTRICTIONS, SLEEP MODE BETWEEN 10:00 P.M.
AND 7:00 A.M. WITH PANDORA'S BOX ALREADY
OPEN, IS THE ONUS ON THE

COMPANIES TO MORE SERIOUSLY
GIVE THE PARENT A WAY OF HELPING CHILDREN USE IT RATHER
THAN TAKING IT OFF THE TABLE AND LACKING ACCESS? PETER:
IT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

IS THERE A WAY TO IMPROVE THESE
SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AND MAKE THEM VALUABLE INSTEAD OF
BANNING THEM OUTRIGHT? AUSTRALIA FEELS THEY HAVE
WAITED LONG ENOUGH. IF YOU EXPECT FACEBOOK OR X TO
DO BETTER, THEY WILL NOT DO IT.

YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ATTEMPTS
WITH NOT MUCH PROGRESS. THE QUESTION BECOMES THE
ULTIMATUM OF: YOU LET KIDS ON IN HOPES THAT THINGS WILL IMPROVE
OR DO YOU CUT THEM OFF AND PUT

ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON
COMPANIES TO DO A BETTER JOB OF REGULATING THE CONTENT.
THE ALGORITHMS HERE ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ARE
NOT LEADING KIDS TO THE SOLUTIONS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THEY ARE LEADING THEM TO

ADDICTIVE CONTENT, AND WE HAVE
SEEN THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN FROM TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES. CAROLINE:

Australia Bans Social Media for Anyone Under 16

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Bloomberg Technology

Australia's Ban on Minors' Social Media Access

Governments worldwide struggle with regulating minors' access to social media.

Australia's blanket ban is a dramatic move, unlike previous attempts.

Companies like Meta strongly oppose the ban, calling it a 'fascist step'.

Despite opposition, the ban enjoys significant public and governmental support.

A survey shows 77% of adults support the ban.

Companies face difficulties in implementing the ban within the 12-month deadline.

Debate exists on whether social media companies or app stores should lead implementation.

Companies claim implementation is difficult, but governments have achieved similar regulations before.

China's success in implementing similar restrictions is cited as an example.

Despite challenges, the Australian government is determined to proceed.

Technological Implementation Methods and Challenges

Discussion on the technological methods for implementing age verification.

Norway's attempt to limit children's online access had limited success due to circumvention.

Children often find ways to bypass restrictions.

China's system, requiring registration and limiting access hours, is highlighted.

China's centralized control allows for stricter time limits on gaming and social media.

International Comparisons and Parental Concerns

Doubt expressed about the feasibility of such a ban in countries like the US.

Parental rights and autonomy are questioned in relation to government intervention.

Global Implications and Alternative Approaches

Discussion on whether the Australian model will spread to other countries like the US and Europe.

France's proactive approach to regulating children's technology use is mentioned.

Some US states, like Florida, are also taking steps to regulate children's technology use.

Concerns about the psychological impact of unregulated social media on children are raised.

UNICEF's concerns about the ban pushing children to unregulated online spaces are mentioned.

Arguments for holding social media companies accountable instead of banning children are presented.

Focus on Social Media Companies' Responsibility

Question of whether the onus should be on companies to improve safety features rather than banning access.

Debate on whether improving social media platforms is a better alternative to an outright ban.

Australia's belief that waiting for companies to improve is futile is highlighted.

The ultimatum of allowing access with hope for improvement versus cutting off access and pressuring companies is presented.

Harmful algorithms leading children to addictive content are identified as a key problem.