The government presents the law as a tool to protect the mental health of young people, based on studies that indicate a link between increased use of the networks and emotional distress, misinformation, bullying and damaged body image.
Along with the public support, many of the young people expressed disappointment and fear. Some reported that they managed to log into existing accounts that were opened at a young age or bypass the checks.
Others argued that the law distances them from important support communities, especially among the young gay community, for whom social networks are a major source of belonging and emotional sharing.
Many countries around the world are closely following the Australian experiment: Denmark, New Zealand and Malaysia have announced that they will observe the model, and in the US the pressure is increasing from parents to set similar limits, following criticism of the non-action of the technology companies.
“reddit” also entered into the dispute. The platform announced that it would comply with the law but claimed that its definition as a social network is wrong and arbitrary, since it is about anonymous chat communities and not a network based on profiles and real-time communication.
“reddit” announced that new users will be required to enter a date of birth, and existing users will undergo a new age prediction model. Anyone who is identified as under 16 will be able to appeal and prove their age.
In a letter revealed under the Freedom of Information Act, “reddit” claimed that its goal is to facilitate knowledge-based discourse on sensitive topics, and that the collection of personal information is minimal. According to her, the law may harm the ability of users to receive support and essential information in sensitive groups.