Australia is considering implementing a law that would prohibit children under the age of 13 from using social networking platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Meta’s applications. This initiative aims to safeguard children from exposure to inappropriate content and potential risks associated with online activities. The decision to enforce this law is based on growing concerns about the negative impact of online content on children’s well-being.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to presenting the bill before the end of the year, citing research that revealed alarming statistics about children encountering violence, explicit material, and online harassment on social networks. The government also plans to extend the ban to include gaming platforms and chat applications, such as Roblox, Discord, and Twitch. A key challenge in implementing this ban is verifying the ages of users, a task that the government acknowledges is not straightforward.
While this initiative is specific to Australia, it may set a precedent for similar measures in other countries. For instance, in Vietnam, TikTok has gained significant popularity but has faced regulatory scrutiny for violating content, advertising, and privacy regulations. With the rising number of young users on social networking platforms, other countries could also consider comparable actions to protect children and reshape the regulatory landscape for online platforms.