Earlier this week, Australia’s Senate approved legislation that bans children under 16 from using social media platforms
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he is hopeful that the measure will provide parents with “peace of mind” and help children focus on enjoying their childhood.
However, experts are saying teenagers will easily find ways to bypass Australia’s upcoming social media ban.
Elaine Burke, host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast, believes the ban will be challenging to implement effectively.
“This is a very real social space for teenagers,” Burke said during an interview on Moncreiff.
“To say they cannot use it – even though for many of them their use will be quite positive in many ways – you’ll actually make it so that it’s completely underground for them.”
Burke also warned that these kinds of restrictions could have unintended consequences.
“The desire will still be there. They will find ways around it, and they will not be able to tell you if something bad does happen to them on there because they’ll know they shouldn’t be using it in the first place.”
Some have compared the legislation to existing restrictions on smoking, vaping, and drinking alcohol for children.
However, Burke argued that social media bans are far easier to evade.
“If I log into an app, I usually save that login and only have to log in once,” she explained.
“So, if I can get around it once and save that verification, then I’ve bypassed the ban entirely.”
The Australian Government has not yet provided details on how the ban will be enforced.
A consultation with tech companies is due to begin in the coming weeks to evaluate the effectiveness of current age verification technologies and recommend improvements.
“That survey hasn’t even started, and the results won’t be out until next year,” Burke noted.
While the law has been passed, it includes a 12-month grace period before full enforcement begins.
In the interim, platforms are expected to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services, though what constitutes “reasonable steps” remains unclear.
In 2021, 89% of people in Ireland communicated through social media, highlighting the widespread integration of these platforms into daily life.
For teenagers, Burke said social media serves as a crucial space for connection.
The Australian Government’s plans to address this issue will depend on how successfully they can balance enforcement with teens’ persistent want to stay connected online.
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