Australia is set to introduce a groundbreaking ban on social media use for individuals under the age of 16, which will take effect in December. This regulation aims to mitigate the adverse effects that social media can have on young users.
A recent report reveals that while various technologies could potentially aid in enforcing this ban, each method presents its own set of risks and limitations. The Australian government has emphasized that the platforms must implement "reasonable steps" to either prevent the creation of accounts by minors or deactivate existing accounts.
The report, commissioned by the federal government and carried out by the Age Check Certification Scheme based in the UK, evaluates multiple approaches to verify the ages of users. These methods include:
Although the report indicates that these methods are feasible, it concluded that no single solution could comprehensively meet all needs, nor could any method guarantee absolute effectiveness.
Among the approaches, verifying age through government documents was acknowledged as the most reliable method. However, this raises privacy concerns regarding the potential long-term retention of users' sensitive data by the platforms, as well as sharing this information with regulatory bodies. This issue is particularly pertinent in light of recent high-profile data breaches in Australia, where personal information was compromised.
Facial recognition techniques demonstrated a 92% accuracy rate for users aged 18 and older, but the report identified a "buffer zone" around the age of 16 where accuracy significantly diminishes. This inconsistency could lead to both false positives, allowing underage users to create accounts, and false negatives, mistakenly blocking users who are over the age limit.
The report also pointed out the limitations and privacy implications tied to parental consent methods.
To address these challenges, the report suggests a layered approach combining various verification methods to create a more reliable system. It also notes that technology providers are working on strategies to combat circumvention methods, such as document forgery or the use of VPNs to disguise a user's location.
Communications Minister Anika Wells stated, "There is no one-size-fits-all solution," while maintaining that age verification can be "private, efficient, and effective." She emphasized the responsibility of social media companies, which possess substantial technological capabilities, to leverage their resources in safeguarding children's online experiences. "It is reasonable to ask them to use that same data and tech to keep kids safe online," Wells remarked.
Under these new regulations, technology companies failing to take adequate measures to bar underage users could face fines of up to A$50 million (approximately USD $32.5 million). The specific protocols for compliance are yet to be defined, but major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube will be impacted.
Polls indicate that a majority of Australian adults support the initiative to restrict social media access for children under 16. However, some mental health advocates express concerns that the new policy might isolate kids from necessary social connections and could encourage them to seek out less regulated spaces on the internet. Critics suggest that the government might be more effective by focusing on regulating harmful content rather than implementing broad bans.