Australia Implements World's First Youth 'SNS Shutdown'... Signs of Global Spread [Current Affairs Show]

Aimed at Protecting Youth from Harmful Content
Australian Teenagers Push Back, File Constitutional Appeal

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show'

■ Host: So Jongseop, Political Specialist

■ Producer: Lee Miri

■ Guest: Reporter Lee Hyunwoo

Starting December 10, the Australian government has implemented a law that, for the first time in the world, completely bans the use of social networking services (SNS) by children and teenagers under the age of 16. This drastic measure was taken to address various social issues stemming from the indiscriminate exposure of young people to SNS, especially the problems of online personal attacks and bullying. This move has become an issue not only in Australia but also in South Korea and countries around the world, and as European countries are expected to introduce similar youth SNS shutdown policies, both major and minor controversies are arising.

Unfiltered Exposure to Harmful Content via SNS... Youth Shutdown Policy in Progress

Reuters Yonhap News

This shutdown policy reportedly began with a proposal from Peter Malinauskas, the current Premier of South Australia, and his wife. They were deeply impressed after reading "The Anxious Generation," a book written last year by Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and professor at New York University. The book argues that as parents neglect to build bonds with their children, SNS excessively fills this emotional void, leading the current generation of youth into an unprecedented mental health crisis. The main theme of the book is that society must prohibit youth access to SNS and return to an environment where parents talk more with their children and friends meet and play face-to-face.

Premier Malinauskas began advocating for age restrictions on SNS starting in September last year, focusing on legislative efforts. Subsequently, parents who lost their children to so-called cyberbullying and online harassment strongly supported the legislation, making it a major issue in Australian society. The Australian government conducted research on the impact of SNS on youth. The results showed that 96% of all Australian teenagers use SNS, and 70% of them were found to be exposed to all kinds of harmful content, including misogyny, violence, and content encouraging suicide, without any protection.

More than half of all teenagers had experienced cyberbullying, and about 14% of teenagers were found to be at risk of digital sexual crimes. As a result, the Australian government determined the situation was extremely serious and decided to pursue a law that would completely block youth access to SNS. Under this law, the use of major SNS platforms-Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Twitch, and Kick-will be entirely blocked for teenagers. If a youth account is found in violation of this regulation, the platform will be fined 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately 50 billion Korean won).

Youths Push Back Against SNS Shutdown, File Constitutional Appeal... "Freedom of Expression Blocked"

AP Yonhap News

Australian teenagers are strongly protesting, claiming that their freedom is being infringed upon. A civic group called the "Digital Freedom Project" has been formed, and two 15-year-old girls have filed a constitutional appeal with the High Court of Australia. They argue that the government's actions are excessive. In particular, they point out that 15- and 16-year-olds are on the verge of adulthood, and it is too much to restrict their freedom of expression on SNS. Some teenagers are highly interested in politics, and for some with disabilities, SNS is the only channel for communicating with the world. Thus, they argue that blocking all SNS to prevent harmful content is unreasonable.

YouTube has also protested, stating that the Australian government's measures excessively restrict the political communication functions of teenagers and has announced plans to file a lawsuit with the High Court. They argue that instead of unconditionally labeling SNS as harmful to teenagers, the positive aspects should be recognized and efforts should focus on blocking harmful content.

The regulation for those under 16 is also controversial. Critics question the significance of blocking access for those who are about to become adults. As various controversies continue, the outcome of the constitutional appeal in the High Court of Australia is expected to greatly influence the future of the ban.

In practice, verifying whether the user is a teenager or an adult is a significant challenge. This is considered the biggest practical issue in Australia. In South Korea, the resident registration system allows for age-based access restrictions, despite some cases of identity theft. However, Australia does not have such a system. Like the United States, tax file numbers, Medicare numbers, and driver's licenses are commonly used as identification. This means there is a considerable risk that teenagers could access SNS using their parents' information.

The Australian government has announced plans to develop an AI-based system that verifies age through facial, voice, and location data analysis to prevent such identity fraud. The problem is that this system cannot be perfect. Teenagers who appear older may be recognized as adults and gain access. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which can bypass access restrictions, are also an issue. With these various loopholes remaining, there are concerns that the Australian government may have rushed into implementing a complete shutdown.

Australia was the first to announce an SNS shutdown policy, and several European countries are already planning similar measures. Denmark is preparing a shutdown policy for those under 15, and the United Kingdom, France, and Norway are also reviewing regulations. The European Union has already passed a resolution setting the minimum age for SNS use at 16, so it is expected that each country will soon enact actual bans.

Youth SNS Shutdown Spreading Worldwide... Controversy Grows in South Korea

If this expands to Europe and the United States, it is likely that youth SNS shutdown policies will be implemented widely around the world. However, there are already concerns that, as soon as regulations begin, Australian teenagers are flocking to new SNS platforms not yet covered by the law, raising fears that such regulations could become endless.

Debate over SNS ban laws is also intensifying in South Korea. As an internet powerhouse, South Korea has always had an overwhelmingly high rate of SNS use, and a recent survey of 1.23 million teenagers found that more than 210,000 reported excessive SNS use, increasing public support for a ban. However, there are widespread concerns about its effectiveness.

South Korea previously implemented a game shutdown policy in 2011, which blocked teenagers from accessing online games during late-night hours to protect their right to sleep. However, the policy was abolished in 2022 due to its ineffectiveness. Rampant identity theft and VPN circumvention made enforcement impossible. In China, the authorities block sensitive internet searches, including Google, but cannot prevent all workarounds, leading to criticism that such comprehensive monitoring is a waste of administrative resources.

Ultimately, to prevent issues such as excessive SNS use, sexual crimes, and secondary offenses like cyberbullying, there is a growing call for self-regulation and social discussion rather than unilateral government bans. There is a need to change the education system so that teenagers can find relaxation in life instead of relying on SNS. The biggest issue is that, under the current exam-oriented education environment, students feel there is nothing else to do during their free time. Without addressing this fundamental problem, a real solution seems unlikely.