Australia to Ban Social Media For Children

Syllabus: GS1/ Social Issues

In News

• The Australian government has announced plans to introduce legislation restricting social media access for children under 16, aiming to mitigate potential harms associated with online platforms.

Social Media

• Social media refers to online platforms where people create, share, and exchange information and ideas. Examples include Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Harmful effects of social media on children

• Mental Health Issues: Increases anxiety, depression, and risk of cyberbullying.
• Sleep Disturbance: Poor sleep quality and screen addiction.
• Academic Impact Reduces focus, leading to lower grades and procrastination.
• Social Skills Decline: Less face-to-face interaction weakens social skills.
• Body Image Issues: Causes body dissatisfaction and self-esteem problems.
• Privacy Risks: Exposure to inappropriate content and data privacy threats.
• Materialism: Influencer culture promotes unrealistic lifestyles and self doubts.

Social Media Regulation in India

• In India, social media regulation is governed by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 and Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023.

IT Rules 2021: 

• Grievance Redressal Mechanism:A three-level grievance redressal system has been established, allowing users to report concerns. Each platform must respond to complaints within a specified time frame.
• Disclosure of Origin: Social media platforms are required to reveal the first originator of a controversial or harmful message when requested by a court or authorized government agency. This rule helps track the spread of misinformation or harmful content.
• Chief Compliance Officer: All social media intermediaries must appoint a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), a resident of India, to ensure the platform’s adherence to local laws and respond to legal requirements.
• Voluntary Verification: Significant social media platforms must provide an option for users to voluntarily verify their accounts, promoting trustworthiness on the platform.

Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023: 

• Section 9: Governs children’s data under age 18 with three conditions:
• Parental Consent: Requires verifiable consent from parents/guardians.
• Well-being Focus: Data processing must prioritize child well-being.
• No Targeted Advertising: Restricts tracking and behavioral advertising targeting children.

Global Social Media Regulations for Children

• China: Restricts daily internet use based on age, with limitations ranging from 40 minutes to two hours per day, and bans internet use for minors from 10 PM to 6 AM.
• European Union: Proposed a ban on internet access without parental consent for children under 16. Imposes strict data privacy controls, setting a benchmark for user data protection worldwide.
• South Korea: Enacted the Cinderella Law in 2011, which banned children under 16 from online gaming from midnight to 6 AM, aimed at reducing internet addiction. The law was abolished in 2021.
• France: Requires parental authorization for children under 15 to access social media.
  • Earnings of influencers under 16 are protected from parental access until the child reaches 16.

Issues with Banning Social Media for Children

• Enforcement Difficulties: Digital age restrictions are hard to enforce; children can find ways to bypass them.
• Parental Burden: Age restrictions place an added burden on parents, especially where digital literacy is low, making it difficult for them to monitor children’s activities effectively.
• Freedom of Expression: Banning social media restricts children’s rights to express themselves and access diverse information.
• Benefits of Social Media: Provides community support, promotes learning, and keeps children informed about global issues and trends.

Way Ahead

• Enhanced Age Verification Technologies: Implement advanced, reliable age-verification tools that can accurately restrict children’s access based on regulatory requirements.
• Parental Involvement and Digital Literacy Programs: Introduce widespread digital literacy programs for parents and guardians, especially in regions with low digital awareness. 
• Stricter Data Privacy and Content Moderation Policies: Reinforce data privacy for minors by updating policies to ensure their personal information remains protected.
• Integrated Digital Literacy in School Curricula: Schools can play a crucial role by integrating digital literacy into the curriculum, helping children understand the ethical and safe use of social media.
• Emphasis on Mental Health Support: Develop support systems within schools and communities to address the mental health impacts of social media use on children.

Source: LM