SYDNEY: Three months since Australia's landmark social media ban for under 16s, the country's internet watchdog is investigating five major social media platforms for allegedly not complying, the government in Canberra said on Tuesday.
The first report on the ban by Australia's eSafety Commissioner has exposed "unacceptable systems" being used by tech giants, allowing underage users to bypass blocks.
Social media companies have been allowing users to repeatedly attempt to pass age verification checks, for example.
Australia's new law is being closely watched by governments – and parents – around the world, as many countries debate introducing similar laws to protect children from social media addiction.
Under the ban, which took effect in December, under 16s are no longer allowed to have their own accounts on 10 major social media platforms.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said that the eSafety Commissioner was "actively investigating potential non-compliance in relation to five platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube."
Wells said that, as of early March, 5 million under-16 social media accounts have been removed, deactivated or restricted. However, a "concerning" number of children under 16 are still accessing social media despite the ban, she said.
"The kinds of tactics we're seeing deployed by social media platforms to undermine Australia's world-leading law are right out of the big tech playbook," said Wells in a statement.
"This new report from eSafety Commissioner shows that social media giants seem to be trying to get away with doing the bare minimum – I have serious concerns about their compliance with the law," the minister continued.
"If eSafety finds these platforms have systemically failed to uphold their legal obligations, I expect the Commissioner to throw the book at them."
Tech giants could be fined up to $49.5 million Australian (US$33.9mil/RM136mil) if they do not comply.
Australian officials say the digital reforms will help the social skills, learning skills and mental health of young Australians to recover from the impact of social media.
Worldwide, many governments, as well as parents and children alike, are already wrangling with the best way to handle technology. Many phone users of all ages struggle with low energy, lack of focus, a sense of aimlessness when scrolling online and overall online dread. – dpa
