X Urges Parents to Take Responsibility for Online Safety in Light of Impending Social Media Ban

November 25, 2024 TruthUSA

X expressed serious concerns regarding the lawfulness of the Bill, questioning its compatibility with other regulations and laws.

Elon Musk’s X Corporation strongly criticized the Australian government’s proposed ban on social media for children under 16.

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 (pdf) is currently under a Senate inquiry with a tight deadline.

X Corporation voiced its concern about the short timeframe provided for submissions on the significant legislative proposal.

“We also have concerns about the Bill’s lawfulness and its alignment with other regulations and international human rights treaties signed by Australia,” X stated (pdf).

“X, as a platform, does not target minors, and we do not allow advertisers to target them. We are exploring age verification options while considering legal implications and privacy principles.”

The bill imposes fines of up to $49.5 million on social media platforms for not taking adequate steps to prevent underage access.

The government’s explanatory memorandum on the bill (pdf) mentions the requirement for age assurance on social media platforms to identify Australian children under 16 years.

Concern for Human Rights

X highlighted concerns that the Bill could impact the human rights of children, including their freedom of expression, in international treaties like the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

X emphasized the vagueness of the Bill and its lack of essential definitions needed for regulatory clarity, especially concerning its punitive nature.

‘No Evidence or Research’ Supporting Social Ban: X

X pointed out the absence of evidence or research supporting a social media ban as the best solution or one that balances the rights of young individuals.

Government authorities, including the eSafety commissioner and children’s commissioner, have previously expressed concerns about the ban’s impact on young people.

Not Enough Focus on Parental Responsibility

X Corporation raised concerns about the lack of emphasis on parental responsibility, shifting the burden solely to social media companies.

The platform urged the Australian government to consider more flexible age assurance approaches before rushing to pass the law.

X recommended exploring age verification mechanisms at the device or app store level for effective and privacy-protective solutions.

“We believe collaboration with international regulators on age verification options is essential to address regulatory tensions and implementation timing,” X added.

Tech billionaire Musk also shared concerns about the social media ban on X, suggesting it could lead to a national ID implementation.

Bipartisan Support

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stated that the Albanese government’s legislation protects children online.

“The law mandates social media platforms, not parents or youth, to ensure necessary protections are in place,” she noted.

Rowland emphasized the collective responsibility of keeping children safe and the government’s commitment to playing its part.

While the Coalition expressed support for the bill, some members raised concerns about digital ID and privacy implications.

Coalition Shadow Minister Bridget McKenzie highlighted the need for strong laws to protect children on social media while ensuring privacy is not compromised by mandatory digital IDs.

“We aim to safeguard kids under 16 on social media platforms without compromising privacy,” McKenzie stated in Parliament.

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