Could Australia's ban on social media for kids set an example?

In what could be a 'world-leing' moment for internet, Australia is set to impose a blanket ban on social media platforms for users d 16 or below. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited risks to physical and mental health of kids from prolonged social media use as a solid reason behind measures that would curtail accessibility of platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, to younger population.

"Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," said Prime Minister in a conference. Once introduced as legislation in Australian parliament later this year, law will come into effect within 12 months.

Australia's upcoming legislation will be one of most stringent, barring each user under prescribed limit from accessing social media websites. That includes children who alrey have social media accounts with or without parental consent, leaving leeway. But as futureproof as legislation sounds, it could casce in a different direction, if t set an example.

Will law set an example for ors?

While Australia's proposal to legislate social media use for kids could create a landmark moment, it is t first. government of United States has time and again attempted to curb misuse of social media platforms by under users, requiring m to seek parental consent. Those who could t obtain parental consent to join a social media platform were lawfully banned. However, re have been several loopholes, especially in verification process.

Much like US, France last year proposed a ban on social media for users under 15. However, it me exemptions for kids who obtained parental consent to use social media platforms.

Having learnt from se systems that do t allow ban to work effectively, Australia has opted for a new -verification system that will assist in blocking children from using social media platforms. se systems would involve use of biometrics or government-issued identification to ensure insistent users cant bypass restriction through potential loopholes that verification methods from or governments might have. This verification system will also allow government to keep a check on users who involve ir parents for consent.

" onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate y are taking reasonable steps to prevent access," said Albanese. " onus won't be on parents or young people."

Should Australia's plan to stop children from social media access and any ways to circumvent ban work, it could set an example for or countries that have time and again stressed need for regulation on social media for kids. While specifics of how proposed verification method would work are unclear, government will most likely require platforms such as Meta, Google, and TikTok to co-develop techlogies for deeper integration in ir websites and apps. Once implemented, said techlogy could be replicated in or markets, based on government's demands.

But, what if it does t go well?

Since ban is at proposal st, companies involved will provide ir feedback on how y can work toger with Australian government to ensure legislation or its variation. However, acemics with expertise in fields related to techlogy and child welfare have warned ban could have negative impacts, citing how social media helped over 73 per cent of young people in country seek mental health support.

One of experts told Associated Press most young people are likely to circumvent ban and it could drive ir behaviour underground. "...and n if things go wrong, young people are less likely to get support from parents and carers because y're worried about getting in trouble," said Jackie Hallan, a director at youth mental health service ReachOut, while speaking to AP.

A lawyer from Australian National University said ban "could create pressures within families," whereas managing director of Digital Industry Group -- an organisation that safeguards interests of Australia's digital industry, Sunita Bose called for a "balanced approach to create -appropriate s."

government is likely to consult acemics, besides social media platforms, to navigate legislation before it turns into a law. However, wher Australia mans to pull off what its Western counterparts have been trying to achieve is something only time will tell.