Australia’s global prohibition in children under 16 by joining social media sites cleared a great obstacle on Friday, since a trial found that the controls of the digital age can work “in a robust and effective way”, according to AFP.
Australian legislators approved historical rules to prohibit children under 16 from social networks in November 2024, approving one of the most difficult repressions in the world in popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram and X.
Sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and X could face fines of up to Aus $ 50 million (US $ 32 million) for not complying with the legislation.
The law has described, which must enter into force for the end of this year, as vague, hurried and “problem.”
There has been a general concern for the use of children’s online platforms, since evidence shows that social networks can have negative effects on the mental and physical health of children.
The verification systems of the digital age, which would be criticism for the ban, can work, said the provisional findings of an independent age guarantee technology trial, carried out for the Government.
“These preliminary findings indicate that the age guarantee can be done in Australia privately, robust and effective,” he said.
There are no “significant technological barriers” to display age verification systems in Australia, said the trial project director Tony Allen.
“These solutions are technically feasible, they can be integrated flexibly into existing services and can support the safety and rights of online children,” he said in a statement.
In a separate interview with Australia Nine networkHowever, Allen said that preventing children from avoiding age verification tools were a “great challenge.”
“I don’t think anything is completely infallible,” he said.
There is a “plethora” of approaches for age verification, but there is no unique solution to adapt to all cases, said the report of the trial, in which 53 organizations participated.
Australia legislation is being closely monitored by other countries, and many sopes whether to implement similar prohibitions.
Greece headed a proposal this month for the European Union to limit the use of online platforms for children by establishing a digital age era, prohibits children from social networks without parents.
