The Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, is demanding that big technology companies develop and implement new codes in the next six months to better protect children and teenagers from online harm. It comes after alarming research revealed that, on average, children are exposed to online pornography at 13 years old. Now, in a mandate for this, Meta – the parent company of social media outlets including Instagram and Facebook – has put forward one big change to online safety practice.
It also suggests that Apple and Google permit the installation of only popular apps on mobile devices with explicit parental approval where the phone has been set up for a user under the age of 16 years. In practice, what this would really mean is any device set up for a child or teenager where the app installation process requires the parent’s consent. This is how Meta thinks such measures can work toward preventing children from using material that is harmful to them.
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This is not, however, without its controversies: Apple has pushed back on the suggestion by Meta, accusing it of simply seeking to pass the buck of responsibility regarding online safety onto other companies rather than taking responsibility for its own platform’s role in keeping young users safe.
Furthermore, the Australian government is mulling over “age assurance” technology. This will verify the age of online users and create restricted access in areas that contain inappropriate content for age, such as pornography, further making safer digital spaces for younger users.
What are the goals behind Australia’s new online safety mandate?
The mandate seeks to make the online environment safer for children and teenagers by setting some rules and codes of conduct that major tech companies should put in place to keep young users safe from online threats and harmful content.
What does Meta propose to improve online safety for children?
Meta suggests there should be a mechanism in place, instead of Apple and Google, whereby only the popular apps would be allowed to install on the devices set up for users under 16 after receiving approval from parents, in order to create a better way of ensuring parents are in control of what apps children use.
How has Apple reacted to the proposal suggested by Meta?
Apple has slammed Meta’s proposal as a ploy to divert attention away from the company’s own responsibilities on online safety by passing the buck to other companies to take on the burden of enforcing parental controls.
What did recent research reveal about children’s exposure to online content?
Research from the Australian eSafety Commissioner showed that the average age at which children first viewed online pornography was 13 years. This is something that has made the need for better safety online very urgent.
What else is being considered by the Australian government to further protect children online?
The “age assurance” technology being trialed by the government is one that verifies the age of the user online to restrict inappropriate content and make the digital world safer for young users.
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