Social media advocates are urging Australia to delay its proposed ban on children under 16 using platforms like X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Sunita Bose, managing director of the Digital Industry Group Inc., told a Senate committee Monday that the law, introduced last week, should be postponed until next year, at least until a government review of age assurance technologies is completed in June.
The legislation, which aims to impose fines of up to 50 million AUD for platforms failing to prevent young children from creating accounts, is expected to pass by Thursday. It would take effect a year after becoming law, giving platforms time to develop solutions that also safeguard privacy.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland supports the bill, stating social media in its current form is unsafe for children. However, Bose expressed concerns the ban could isolate children and push them toward less safe online spaces.
A government evaluation of age verification technologies is set to report in June, examining their accuracy, security, and privacy features.
