tech
Countries around the world are considering teen social media bans
"I think the argument for a ban is an admission of failure that we cannot regulate companies, so we can only restrict children," one expert told CNBC.
TL;DR
- Australia has enacted a social media ban for individuals under 16, requiring age verification on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Reddit.
- Several European countries, including the UK, Spain, France, and Austria, are drafting proposals for similar teen social media restrictions.
- Legal defeats for Meta in child safety trials are expected to spur further legislation, though a national US ban is unlikely, with state-level actions underway.
- Critics, like Sonia Livingstone, argue bans are an admission of governmental failure to regulate tech companies and a "slapdash solution."
- Experts advocate for enforcing existing laws, imposing stricter penalties on non-compliant companies, and mandating 'safety by design' features.
- Alternative solutions proposed include privacy and safety by design legislation, such as the Children and Teen Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
- Bans are viewed by some as a "lazy" and "unfair" measure that punishes young people and may push them to less regulated parts of the internet.
- Evidence suggests that a social media ban can be circumvented, with teens using VPNs or adopting alternative platforms.
- Experts believe that pre-market testing for social media features, similar to other industries, would be a more effective preventative measure.