This legislation, which was approved by the Australian Senate on November 29, 2024, imposes fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately Rs 275 crore) on social media companies that fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts. Messaging apps and online gaming platforms are exempt from this ban.
Besides Australia, more countries have implemented or are considering age restrictions for social media use to protect young people from potential online harms.
Here are some examples:
1. United Kingdom:
While the UK does not currently have plans for an Australia-style ban, it has passed the Online Safety Act, which sets stricter standards for social media platforms, including age-appropriate restrictions. The UK is considering a similar ban for individuals under 16. The Online Safety Act aims to enforce the removal of detrimental posts and protect young people from harmful content.2. France:
In France, children under 15 cannot create a social media account without parental consent. The government requires legally documented parental consent for accessing social media platforms.Social media firms that fail to comply with these regulations face fines of up to 1% of their global revenues. France is also advocating for an EU-wide adoption of similar regulations, urging other European countries to follow its lead.
3. United States:
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) mandates that children under 13 cannot legally have a social media account. Some states, like Ohio and Florida, have required parental permission for minors to use social media.In a proposed Federal Legislation, the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would set a minimum age of 13 for social media use and require parental consent for users aged 13 to 17.
Montana has banned TikTok within the state. New Jersey has established a commission to study the effects of social media on adolescent.
4. South Korea:
South Korea had a "shutdown law" that limits children under 16 from accessing gaming sites after midnight. However, this law has faced challenges with enforcement.Initially introduced in 2011, the Cinderella Law or shutdown law banned children under 15 from playing online games between midnight and 6 a.m. to prevent tiredness in school. However, it was replaced in 2021 with a "choice permit" system, allowing parents to set approved playing times.
In August this year lawmakers in South Korea proposed a bill aimed at regulating use of social media by under-16.
5. Norway:
Norway is set to enact a strict age minimum of 15 for social media use following a government campaign against social media giants.The current minimum age limit to use social media in Norway is 13, which is in line with the requirements of TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat’s terms of service.
Last month, Norway has announced plans to raise the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 15. This decision aims to protect children from harmful online content and data collection practices. Social media platforms will need to implement age verification measures to ensure that users are at least 15 years old.
In India, the country has Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, requires data fiduciaries to collect verifiable parental consent from parents of children under the age of 18 for processing their data online.
In 2023, the Karnataka High Court suggested to the Union Government to implement an age limit of 21 for accessing social media, citing concerns about excessive addiction among schoolchildren and its negative impact.
In the EU, parental consent is required for processing personal data for children under the age of 16, although member states can lower this limit to 13.
These measures reflect a growing global effort to protect young people from the potential negative effects of social media.
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