Australia shares tips for limiting social media for children before age limit comes into effect in December
MELBOURNE, Australia — MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government has launched a public education campaign with advice on how to wean children off social media before a world-first national age limit of 16 comes into effect in December.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said on Friday that information posted on her agency’s website, esafety.gov.au, explained the new laws and how to navigate them.
From December 10, platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok,
Awareness messages will also be broadcast from Sunday on digital channels, television, radio and billboards.
“We want children to have a childhood. We want parents to have peace of mind and we want young people – young Australians – to have three more years to learn who they are before the platforms assume who they are,” Communications Minister Anika Wells told reporters, referring to the de facto 13-year-old age limit for social media accounts, based on US privacy legislation private.
Australia’s age restrictions have already proven polarizing, with some experts warning the changes would harm and protect children. More than 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter to the government last year opposing an age limit on social media, seeing it as “too blunt an instrument to effectively manage risk”.
Despite this warning, the laws passed with resounding support last year. Platforms have had a year to figure out how to comply with no foolproof technology available to verify ages.
Inman Grant said the age restriction on social media would be a “very monumental event for a lot of young people”.
Her agency offered checklists and conversation starters on ways to make the transition, such as following an influencer online through a website rather than a social media account, she said.
“How can we start weaning them off social media now so it’s not a shock come December 10? How can we help them download their archives and memories and how can we make sure they’re in touch with their friends and aware of mental health support if they’re feeling down when they’re not attached to their phones over the holiday period?” she added.
Australia’s decision is being closely watched by countries who share concerns about the impact of social media on young children.
Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia, Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, said her government would use its current presidency of the Council of the European Union to promote the agenda of protecting children from the harms of social media.
“This is something that is a global challenge and we are all looking at how we can best manage it and we are looking to Australia and we will look at what Australia is doing,” Dahl-Madsen told Australian Broadcasting Corp. in Melbourne on Monday.
“It is very important that Australia, Denmark and the EU share lessons, compare experiences and can hopefully make practical progress in this area,” she added. It was about “protecting our children in this increasingly complicated digital world”.
The Danish government last week proposed legislating an age limit of 15. But Dahl-Madsen said Denmark would consider allowing parents to exempt their children aged 13 to 14. Australia does not have a similar exemption.
