Australia is months away from implementing its world-first social media ban for teens. But questions still remain around how the restrictions will work.
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How will the federal government's under-16s social media ban work? Here's what we know
Australia is months away from implementing its world-first social media ban for users under the age of 16.
But questions still remain around how the restrictions will work, and exactly which platforms will be affected.
Just this week, the federal government reversed plans to provide an exemption to video-sharing site YouTube, following a recommendation from eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
Here's what to know about the teen social media ban.
Who will be banned?
All children under the age of 16 in Australia. The federal government says the ban is needed to protect the mental health and wellbeing of children and teens.
It says the risks of harm presented by social media, such as cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content, outweigh any positives of having accounts.
How will the ban work?
Australian children below the age of 16 will be unable to have social media accounts under the ban.
Social media companies will be required to take "reasonable steps" to ensure there are no workarounds. If they don't enforce the ban, they could face fines of up to $50 million.
There won't be fines or penalties for young people or their families if they gain access to the platforms.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said platforms would be required to deactivate existing accounts owned by children.
How will platforms verify users' ages?
We still don't know.
The law specifies that while social media companies can request users provide their government ID to verify their ages, it must not be a requirement to access the platform. Instead, they need to offer "reasonable alternatives" for users to prove they are 16 or older. There have been trials of age-checking technology, but the results aren't expected to be released until later this year.
Last month, a preliminary report from the organisation commissioned to lead the testing found options existed to verify the age of users privately, robustly and effectively. But separately, questions have been raised over the viability of some of the technology tested, sowing doubt over whether the ban can be executed. For example, face-scanning technology tested on school students this year could only guess their age within an 18-month range in 85 per cent of cases.
Ms Wells said the government was awaiting final recommendations out of those trials to provide more clarity on what the government considered "reasonable steps" companies should be taking to enforce the ban.
"There is technology and each platform works differently," she said, adding that companies should be working directly with Ms Inman Grant to establish verification methods. "Reasonable steps is reasonable," she concluded.
Platforms will not be allowed to use any information provided to verify age for other purposes unless the user consents.
Which apps are getting banned?
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and Reddit will be age-restricted.
Some messaging apps, such as Messenger Kids, WhatsApp and Google Classroom, won't be included in the ban.
A fact sheet published by the federal government in December last year said platforms would fall under the age restriction requirements if the platform:
- has a sole or significant purpose to enable online social interaction between two or more users
- allows users to link to, or interact with, some or all of the other users
- allows users to post content
What about YouTube?
The federal government did have plans to carve out an exemption for YouTube, but it has since changed its stance.
Ms Inman Grant wrote to Ms Wells formally recommending the platform be included in the ban. She cited a survey of 2,600 children, which found nearly four in 10 had been exposed to harmful content on YouTube.
While YouTube will be included in the ban, it won't be inaccessible in the same way other social media platforms will be. That's because an account is not needed to access most of the site's content, meaning children will still be able to view videos without logging in. They won't be able to view age-restricted content, leave comments or upload their own videos, though. Meanwhile, YouTube Kids will be exempt from the ban, because accounts on the platform cannot upload content or comment on videos.
When does the social media ban start?
It's due to take effect on December 10.
Will video games be affected?
The government has said online video games won't be included in the ban.
Ms Wells said they "pose fewer social media harms to under-16s" compared to social media platforms.
