Australia's Senate Debates Banning Social Media for Children Under 16

The Australian Senate is currently debating a bill that would ban children under 16 years old from using social media. The bill has already been overwhelmingly supported by the House of Representatives and is likely to be passed by the Senate as well.

The bill would make platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) if they fail to prevent young children from holding accounts.

While the major parties support the ban, many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences. They argue that the ban could isolate vulnerable young people, especially those in regional communities and the LGBTQI community, by cutting them off from their support networks.

The platforms themselves have also complained that the law would be unworkable and have urged the Senate to delay the vote until next year. They argue that the government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies should be completed before the bill is passed.

Critics also argue that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny and could cause more harm than it prevents. They point to concerns about its effectiveness, privacy risks for all users, and the undermining of parental authority.

Despite these concerns, the government is pushing for the bill to be passed before the upcoming elections. They hope that voters will reward them for responding to parents' concerns about their children's addiction to social media. However, the long-term impact of this legislation remains to be seen.