A Snapchat spokesperson mentioned the corporate had raised “critical considerations” in regards to the regulation and that “many unanswered questions” remained about how it will work.
However the firm mentioned it will interact intently with the federal government to develop an strategy balancing “privateness, security and practicality”.
“As at all times, Snap will adjust to any relevant legal guidelines and laws in Australia,” it mentioned.
UNICEF Australia coverage chief Katie Maskiell mentioned younger individuals have to be protected on-line but additionally have to be included within the digital world.
“This ban dangers pushing kids into more and more covert and unregulated on-line areas in addition to stopping them from accessing features of the web world important to their wellbeing,” she mentioned.
Leo Puglisi, a 17-year-old on-line journalist primarily based in Melbourne, was crucial of the laws.
He based streaming channel 6 Information, which supplies hourly information bulletins on nationwide and worldwide points, in 2019 on the age of 11.
“We have been constructed up by having 13 to 15-year-olds see 6 Information on-line after which be part of the crew,” Puglisi mentioned in an announcement.
“Now we have mentioned that this ban significantly dangers proscribing creativity from our younger individuals, it doesn’t matter what ardour or future profession they wish to discover,” he added.
“6 Information isn’t going away.”
GLOBAL ATTENTION
One of many largest points might be privateness – what age-verification data is used, how it’s collected and by whom.
Social media corporations stay adamant that age verification needs to be the job of app shops, however the authorities believes tech platforms needs to be accountable.
Exemptions will seemingly be granted to some corporations, comparable to WhatsApp and YouTube, which youngsters may have to make use of for recreation, faculty work or different causes.
The laws might be intently monitored by different international locations, with many weighing whether or not to implement related bans.
Lawmakers from Spain to Florida have proposed social media bans for younger teenagers, though not one of the measures have been applied but.
China has restricted entry for minors since 2021, with under-14s not allowed to spend greater than 40 minutes a day on Douyin, the Chinese language model of TikTok.
On-line gaming time for kids can also be restricted in China.
