Australia plans to strengthen laws banning minors under 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The current ban is not working: seven out of ten children still have accounts. The government seeks to give the regulatory body more power to fine non-compliant platforms, aiming to close legal loopholes and better protect children from digital harm.
How platforms will dodge the new rules 🛡️
The key to the current failure lies in age verification. Platforms rely on weak systems, such as user declarations or inaccurate facial analysis. Australia proposes tougher sanctions to force the use of robust technologies, like biometric verification or cross-referencing with government data. However, implementing this on a global scale is complex and costly, and companies often prioritize user experience over security.
The foolproof trick: lying about the date of birth 😏
Australia's magic solution is to give the regulatory body more power to impose fines. But in the meantime, minors under 16 will continue using the most effective method ever invented: entering the year 1987 when registering. Will they also fine children for lying? While that is being decided, platforms will keep welcoming those 37-year-old users who post photos of their dog and Fortnite memes.