Australia Demands Social Media Giants Report on Child Account Bans

Australian authorities have mandated that major social media platforms report on the progress of account deactivations for users under the age of 16. This demand follows the implementation of a law that took effect on December 11, 2023, aimed at protecting children from potential online harms.

Communications Minister Anika Wells announced that platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others have committed to complying with this groundbreaking legislation. Wells stated that the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, will reach out to these platforms to gather data on the number of under-16 accounts deactivated since the law’s enactment.

Compliance and Reporting Requirements

The eSafety Commissioner will inquire about the number of accounts held by users under 16 on December 9, compared to the current figures on December 11. The platforms are expected to respond within two weeks, with mandatory monthly updates for the next six months. Failure to comply could result in significant penalties, with fines reaching up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $32.9 million).

Wells noted that there is growing international interest in similar regulations. Countries such as France, Denmark, and New Zealand are reportedly considering frameworks that would restrict children’s access to social media platforms. “There’s been a huge amount of global interest and we welcome it,” Wells stated, highlighting the necessity for action in this area.

Legal Challenges and Public Concerns

While the new law aims to safeguard children online, it has drawn criticism from some sectors. The Digital Freedom Project, a rights group based in Sydney, plans to challenge the law in the Australian High Court on constitutional grounds early next year. The organization questions the feasibility and implications of enforcing such a ban.

Inman Grant has indicated that some platforms might delay compliance until they receive their first compulsory information notice or potential fines. She expressed concerns that companies could intentionally underperform in age verification processes. “That could be a strategy that they have in and of themselves,” Inman Grant remarked, referring to concerns about platforms allowing children to bypass age restrictions.

Statistics from Inman Grant’s research show that 84% of Australian children aged 8-12 have accessed social media accounts, with 90% of those gaining access through parental assistance. Many parents, fearing their children would miss out on social interactions, have facilitated this access. Inman Grant emphasized that the legislation seeks to alleviate this fear of exclusion for children.

The Australian government is closely monitoring the responses from social media platforms, as these developments could set a precedent for how online safety is approached globally. The outcomes of this initiative may have far-reaching implications for the future of social media regulations and child protection laws internationally.