Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has released regulatory guidance to help social media platforms comply with the upcoming Social Media Minimum Age law, set to take effect on December 10. This world-first legislation mandates that platforms prevent children under 16 from holding accounts, with a focus on privacy-preserving and fair practices.
The guidance outlines expectations for platforms, including detecting and deactivating underage accounts, preventing re-registration, and using layered age assurance methods.
“We have encouraged platforms to take a layered approach across the user journey, implementing a combination of systems, technologies, people, processes, policies and communications to support compliance,” Ms Inman Grant said, who is the national eSafety commissioner.
Speaking today with Honorary Fellow of the University of Western Australia Business School, Dr Andrew Gwizdalski, who is a pioneering academic in the fields of the metaverse he said “…this only works with transparent benchmarks, independent testing, short data retention, and serious media literacy programs in schools and at home. then review after two years. Social Media aren’t charities – they sell our kids’ attention to advertisers. Let’s stop pretending otherwise and design accordingly.”
The layered approach to the guidelines caused some confusion with the general public, however, the commissoner said, “Children’s best interests are at the heart of everything we do at eSafety and we are seeking to strike a delicate balance,”
Parents, educators and those interested can get resources on eSafety’s Hub.
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