{"id":2374145,"date":"2024-11-28T09:42:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T14:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/under-16s-social-media-ban-passes-australian-senate-will-soon-be-world-first-law-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-28T09:45:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T14:45:37","slug":"under-16s-social-media-ban-passes-australian-senate-will-soon-be-world-first-law-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/under-16s-social-media-ban-passes-australian-senate-will-soon-be-world-first-law-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Under-16s social media ban passes Australian Senate, will soon be world-first law &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Funder-16s-social-media-ban-passes-australian-senate-will-soon-be-world-first-law-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2374145&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Australia&#8217;s Senate has passed a groundbreaking law banning social media \u200cuse \u2062for \u2063children under 16, making it a world-first legislation. The law, which saw a vote\u2062 of 34\u2063 to 19 in \u2062the Senate and was previously approved\u2064 102\u200b to\u2064 13 by\u200c the House\u200c of\u200d Representatives, will hold platforms \u2063like\u200d TikTok, Facebook, \u200band Instagram \u200baccountable,\u200b imposing\u200d fines of up \u2062to 50 million Australian dollars for \u2063failing to \u2062prevent \u200bunderage accounts.<\/p>\n<p>While the major political parties support the ban, it has sparked concerns among child welfare and mental health advocates regarding its potential negative implications. Critics argue that this restriction\u200b may isolate vulnerable young people, particularly those in \u200drural areas or\u2064 belonging to the LGBTQI community, who rely \u200con social media \u2064for support.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, amendments to \u200bthe bill\u200c strengthen privacy protections, prohibiting platforms from requiring users to provide government-issued\u2064 identification to \u2064verify their age. Critics\u2064 worry \u2063about\u2063 the privacy\u2063 implications of enforcing age verification, while supporters, including families of victims of online \u200ccrimes, celebrate the added protections this legislation could bring.<\/p>\n<p>The platforms have one year to comply before enforcement begins. Advocates for the ban contend that social media companies have long neglected their responsibilities to protect \u2063minors, calling this law\u2062 a necessary step in safeguarding children online. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-biden-admin-still-holding-tens-of-thousands-of-migrant-kids-with-little-oversight\/\" title=\"Report: Biden Admin Still Holding \u2018Tens Of Thousands\u2019 Of Migrant Kids With \u2018Little Oversight\u2019\">mental health experts<\/a> like Christopher Stone caution that the legislation overlooks the positive effects of\u2063 social media \u2063in fostering community and connection among \u2063young people.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Under-16s social media ban passes Australian Senate, will soon be world-first law<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1682835\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Australian\">social media<\/a> ban for children under 16 passed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Australian\">Australian<\/a> Senate Thursday and will soon become a world-first law.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/children\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"children younger than 16\">children younger than 16<\/a> from holding accounts.<\/p>\n<p>The Senate passed the bill 34 votes to 19. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved the legislation 102 votes to 13.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/technology\/3242191\/trump-surgeon-general-pick-called-ban-social-media-teenagers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"TRUMP&rsquo;S SURGEON GENERAL PICK CALLED TO BAN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR TEENAGERS\"><strong>TRUMP&rsquo;S SURGEON GENERAL PICK CALLED TO BAN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR TEENAGERS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The House has yet to endorse opposition amendments made in the Senate. But that is a formality since the government has already agreed they will pass.<\/p>\n<p>The platforms will have one year to work out how they could implement the ban before penalties are enforced.<\/p>\n<p>The amendments bolster privacy protections. Platforms would not be allowed to compel users to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">provide government-issued identity documents including passports<\/a> or driver&rsquo;s licenses, nor could they demand digital identification through a government system.<\/p>\n<p>The House is scheduled to pass the amendments on Friday. Critics of the legislation fear that banning young children from social media will impact the privacy of users who must establish they are older than 16.<\/p>\n<p>While the major parties support the ban, many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. David Shoebridge, from the minority Greens party, said mental health experts agreed that the ban could dangerously isolate many children who used social media to find support.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This policy will hurt vulnerable young people the most, especially in regional communities and especially the LGBTQI community, by cutting them off,&rdquo; Shoebridge told the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>Opposition Sen. Maria Kovacic said the bill was not radical but necessary.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The core focus of this legislation is simple: It demands that social media companies take reasonable steps to identify and remove underage users from their platforms,&rdquo; Kovacic told the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a responsibility these companies should have been fulfilling long ago, but for too long they have shirked these responsibilities in favor of profit,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>Online safety campaigner Sonya Ryan, whose 15-year-old daughter Carly was murdered by a 50-year-old pedophile who pretended to be a teenager online, described the Senate vote as a &ldquo;monumental moment in protecting our children from horrendous harms online.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s too late for my daughter, Carly, and the many other children who have suffered terribly and those who have lost their lives in Australia, but let us stand together on their behalf and embrace this together,&rdquo; she told the <em>Associated Press<\/em> in an email.<\/p>\n<p>Wayne Holdsworth, whose teenage son Mac took his own life after falling victim to an online sextortion scam, had advocated for the age restriction and took pride in its passage.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have always been a proud Australian, but for me subsequent to today&rsquo;s Senate decision, I am bursting with pride,&rdquo; Holdsworth told the <em>AP<\/em> in an email.<\/p>\n<p>Christopher Stone, executive director of Suicide Prevention Australia, the governing body for the suicide prevention sector, said the legislation failed to consider positive aspects of social media in supporting young people&rsquo;s mental health and sense of connection.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The government is running blindfolded into a brick wall by rushing this legislation. Young Australians deserve evidence-based policies, not decisions made in haste,&rdquo; Stone said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>The platforms had complained that the law would be unworkable, and had urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June next year when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies made its report on how young children could be excluded.<\/p>\n<p>Critics argue the government is attempting to convince parents it is protecting their children ahead of a general election due by May. The government hopes that voters will reward it for responding to parents&rsquo; concerns about their children&rsquo;s addiction to social media. Some argue the legislation could cause more harm than it prevents.<\/p>\n<p>Criticisms include that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, is ineffective, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-state-senator-jokes-about-pornhub-as-virginia-age-verification-law-takes-effect\/\" title=\"Democrat Senator jokes about Pornhub as Virginia age verification law begins.\">poses privacy risks<\/a> for all users, and undermines the authority of parents to make decisions for their children.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Opponents also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of the positive aspects of social media, drive them to the dark web, discourage children too young for social media to report harm, and reduce incentives for platforms to improve online safety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1682835\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1682835\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Australia&#8217;s Senate approves a world-first social media ban for under-16s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2374146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AP24325315639478.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[45812,45811,45810,32076,45813],"class_list":["post-2374145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-australian-senate","tag-social-media-ban","tag-under-16s","tag-washington-examiner","tag-world-first-law"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AP24325315639478.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2374145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2374145"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2374145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2374149,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2374145\/revisions\/2374149"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2374146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2374145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2374145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2374145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}