Heads up: Australia just rolled out a world-first law to keep social media safe for teens. This Monday, November 10, platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and Threads started enforcing a ban on under-16s. 🔒
Here's the deal: if you signed up with a birthday showing you’re under 16, you’ll get a ping with three choices – download your data, freeze your profile or watch it vanish. Over a million Aussie accounts will feel the heat in the coming days. No drama for everyone else, though – the 20 million other users are all good. 👍
To figure out your age, apps will use software they’ve already got – guessing based on likes, follows and how you engage. Think of it like a marketing hack turned safety tool. If the system slips up (like booting a 17-year-old or letting a 15-year-old stay), you can appeal through special age-check apps. Fair, right?
Why does it matter? For one, it shows how far countries will go to protect young people online. It also sets a trend for Asia’s digital hubs – imagine similar rules landing in Mumbai or Jakarta soon! 🌏
Stay tuned: as tech platforms fine-tune their filters, expect some hiccups. But down the line, it could mean cleaner feeds and fewer trolls targeting teens. For those in the 16–30 club, keep an eye out – this could shape how we all experience social feeds next. 👀
Reference(s):
Tech companies start to comply with Australia's teen social media ban
cgtn.com
