‘Enforcement mode’: Australia must take fight to tech giants to make social media ban stick, experts warn
Summary
Australia’s government plans to double fines to $99 million for social media companies that break the country’s ban on under-16s using their platforms. Experts and politicians say the government must do more to enforce the ban and hold tech companies responsible for protecting young users and controlling harmful content.Key Facts
- Australia introduced a social media ban on under-16s on December 10.
- The government will increase fines for companies that do not follow the ban from $49.5 million to $99 million.
- Over 5 million accounts have been removed, restricted, or deactivated since the ban started.
- Research shows about 80% of under-16s still say they use social media despite the ban.
- The eSafety commissioner will get stronger powers to gather information and enforce rules.
- Experts suggest a “digital duty of care” law to make platforms responsible for user safety and more transparent about their algorithms (the formulas that decide what people see online).
- The Greens party urges regulating social media algorithms to better protect young users.
- Studies link heavy social media use to poor mental health in young teenagers, but age limits alone may not remove all risks.
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