UNDER ITS BAN ON THE USE OF INTERNET PLATFORMS BY CHILDREN UNDER 16 YEARS, AUSTRALIA HAS SAID IT WILL NOT REQUIRE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS TO VERIFY THE AGES OF ALL USERS.
IT HOWEVER SAID ITS EXPECTS PLATFORMS LIKE FACEBOOK, SNAPCHAT, TIKTOK, AND YOUTUBE TO TAKE “REASONABLE STEPS” IN DETECTING AND DEACTIVATING UNDERAGE USERS.
AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN A LEADER IN GLOBAL EFFORTS TO PREVENT INTERNET HARM, BUT CURRENT LEGISLATION OFFERS ALMOST NO DETAILS ON HOW THE BAN WILL BE ENFORCED, PROMPTING CONCERN AMONG EXPERTS THAT IT WILL SIMPLY BE A SYMBOLIC PIECE OF UNENFORCEABLE LEGISLATION.
