Australia’s landmark social media ban for under-16s has been condemned by online discussion site Reddit as “legally erroneous.” The ban, which comes into effect on December 10, will restrict access to popular social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Despite its disagreement with the law, Reddit has announced that it will comply with the regulations.
The Australian government’s world-first legislation aims to curb the use of social media among minors, citing concerns over online safety and privacy. The law requires social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to verify the age of their users, with fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$33 million) for non-compliance.
Reddit has expressed its disagreement with the law, stating that it undermines the right to free expression and privacy. The company believes that the law’s application to Reddit, a pseudonymous and text-based forum, is arbitrary and goes beyond the original intent of the Australian Parliament. Despite this, Reddit will use an “age-prediction model” to identify and suspend users under the age of 16.
The ban is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of adolescents in Australia, with Instagram alone reporting around 350,000 users aged 13 to 15. Other popular apps and websites, such as Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp, are exempt from the ban, although the list is subject to review.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the ban, stating that it is necessary to protect minors from the potential dangers of social media. He encouraged teenagers to spend more time offline, engaging in activities such as sports, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
The effectiveness of the ban remains to be seen, with concerns that rebellious teens may attempt to skirt the laws by using fake IDs or AI-generated photos. The Australian government expects social media companies to devise their own means to prevent this, although the internet safety watchdog has acknowledged that no solution is likely to be 100 percent effective.
The move is being closely watched by regulators around the world, with Malaysia and New Zealand considering similar bans. The outcome of Australia’s social media ban will likely have significant implications for the global online community, as governments grapple with the challenges of regulating social media and protecting the rights of minors.