Japan is looking at Australia’s ban on under-16 social media use over addiction concerns

TOKYO: Australia’s decision to ban children under 16 from accessing social media has sparked a debate in Japan about the need for similar laws to protect young people.

The bill was approved by the Australian Senate on Thursday and imposes fines of up to A$50 million (US$32.6) on some of the world’s most popular social media platforms – including Facebook, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Instagram and TikTok. million) if they do not prevent children under 16 from having accounts.

A discussion on the same day on TV Asahi’s “Hatori Shinichi Morning Show” news program essentially confirmed that Japan should consider similar restrictions.

The debate began following press reports about a 14-year-old junior high school student from Yokohama who was referred to the prosecutor’s office on suspicion of intimidation and obstruction of business after sending threatening e-mails to road safety spokesman Takuya Matsunaga and the Kanto Traffic Crime Victims Association. .

Matsunaga has been a fierce advocate for more road safety regulations after his wife, Mana, and their daughter, three-year-old Riko, were killed by an elderly driver who ran a red light in Tokyo in 2019. The driver, Kozo Iizuka, claimed in court that his vehicle’s brakes failed, but the court ruled that he pressed the accelerator.

Iizuka’s case returned to the news this week after he died in prison on Tuesday at the age of 93.

As a reminder, the Australian Parliament passed a law banning the use of social media by children under 16 years of age. The government says this is necessary to protect their mental health and wellbeing.

Both houses of the Australian Parliament debated and amended the legislation this week. The Senate approved it on Thursday, and the lower house passed it on Friday.

The new law would require social media operators such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X and Facebook to take steps to prevent children under 16 from using their platforms.

However, other services, including those whose “primary purpose” is to support the “health and education of end users,” would be exempt.

Violators face fines of up to A$49.5 million, or approximately US$32 million. Penalties will not be imposed on children if they are found to have broken the rules. Their parents would not be punished either.

The ban is expected to come into force in about a year. Before this happens, the government intends to establish how a user’s age should be verified.

The latest polls show that 77 per cent of Australians support prohibition. But analysts say challenges remain, such as how to effectively check a user’s age and how to handle their personal data if they need to prove they are over 16.

What lies behind the ban?

Before introducing the bill to parliament, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this month explained why his government was pushing for a social media ban.

“Social media is doing a social disservice to our young Australians and I dedicate my time to this. The safety and mental health of our young people must be a priority,” he said.

There are reports of children in Australia being victims of malicious abuse or sexual exploitation via social media. In some cases, children were driven to suicide.

Australia took a tough stance on social media as parents and others called for restrictions. The government is calling on social media operators to remove violent content and sexual images of children. It also imposes penalties on companies that do not take action.

After the legislation was passed, Albanese said: “Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure that the safety of our children is their priority.”

“We have your back” – this is our message to Australian parents – he added.

How other countries deal with children’s use of social media

There are also ongoing discussions around the world about restrictions on children’s use of social media and measures to protect them from harmful content online.

Many social media platforms such as Instagram and X have implemented measures to prevent children under 13 from creating accounts.

France introduced a law last year requiring social media providers to block access to children under 15 without parental consent.

There are currently ongoing discussions in Norway about banning children under 15 from using social media.

In America, some states have passed laws restricting the use of social media by minors.

In Japan, Children’s Policy Minister Mihara Junko said on Friday that a working group had been formed to discuss measures to protect children from harm caused by the Internet.

Violation of children’s rights?

However, child rights organizations argue that a complete ban on access to social media is problematic.

They point out that social media bans will impact children’s freedom of expression and right to receive information, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“It’s an addiction for them.”

Mia Bannister lost her only son Oliver in January, at the age of 14. He died by suicide after suffering from an eating disorder. Bannister says her son felt like he was overweight and secretly researched the diet on social media, sometimes late into the night.

“It’s an addiction for them,” he says. “As an adult, it’s hard for you to stop yourself. Imagine a child doing this.”

Oliver was obsessed with extreme dietary and exercise restrictions. Ultimately, he had to be hospitalized when, within nine months, his weight dropped from 74 kilograms to less than 50 kilograms.

Bannister believes that social media algorithms repeatedly display content, which causes Oliver to become obsessed.

While he says implementing the ban will be a “teething pain,” Bannister believes it will ultimately “be powerful.”

“It’s not a silver bullet that will solve every problem under the sun, but you have to start somewhere,” he adds.

What Australians say

The passage of laws banning social media has sparked mixed reactions.

After the legislation was passed, NHK spoke to several Australians to hear their thoughts. Some were optimistic that the ban would have a positive impact on children.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said the 70-year-old woman. “We are very concerned about what is happening to young people, especially all the young girls who have been victims of bullying and have taken their own lives.”

The 14-year-old boy agreed. “I think it would be good for kids to put their phones away,” he said. “It’s very addictive for young people. I just limit myself and only use it when I need to text my friends.”

However, a 15-year-old girl stated that the ban would negatively affect her. “I have many friends who don’t live close to where I live and I rarely see them,” she noted.

“I connect with them on social media, so it would affect my friendships. I can’t talk or communicate with them.”

The meta reacts

Social media giant Meta, the operator of Facebook and Instagram, also responded to the social media ban. Before it was passed, he issued a statement saying that “we will respect any age restrictions introduced by the government.”

But he added: “We are concerned that the government is rushing through this legislation without adequate consultation and evidence, and there are still many unknowns about its implementation.”

What comes next

After adopting the regulations, Australia is struggling with the problem of implementing a ban. The first challenge is to verify the age of users.

According to the government-contracted company, several methods are being considered. These include facial biometric verification and ID card confirmation.

However, many people fear that their personal data will be shared and their privacy will be violated.