Washington [US], June 27: Australia's world-first social media ban for young people has sparked warnings it was never strict enough, with experts saying the restrictions have always needed strengthening.
The federal government barred children younger than 16 from apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit and Facebook almost eight months ago and has vowed further changes are to come.
It's been a tricky road since the restrictions came into effect, with Research Fellow in Public Health Samuel Cornell telling AAP there's more work to be done.
It was always going to be necessary for the government to adapt the laws, Dr Cornell said.
"The eSafety commissioner is feeling as though they need more and that law needs to be built up better for them to have more pressure to put on the companies they're dealing with," he said.
"These companies are so powerful and in some ways, they have been acting like nation states and getting away with a lot.
"It's good to see we are really trying to bring down the law to crack down on them because that's necessary. Otherwise, they have a free-for-all."
The social media ban took effect in December, aiming to remove children younger than 16 from online platforms, along with restricting their access to high-impact content like pornography.
The policy has been highly controversial among tech companies, with two separate court challenges lodged by Reddit and a pair of teenagers backed by the Digital Freedom Project.
The government says millions of social media accounts have been deleted, but recent research has shown the ban can be circumvented with relative ease.
As many as 85 per cent of children younger than 16 reported using social media after the ban took effect, according to a study by researchers at the University of Newcastle published on Wednesday.
Dr Cornell believes the restrictions will ultimately be more beneficial in the long term for those who have yet to engage with social media.
"It was never really going to work for (a 15-year-old). There was always going to be that circumventing of the ban," he said.
Government sources have confirmed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce plans to beef up the ban within weeks.
Cyber safety expert Susan McLean believes very little will change if the federal government beefs up the laws.
"The kids are still using these platforms," the former police member told AAP.
"They are lying about their age, their accounts are not being flagged and they are the age clarification.
"Another six months isn't going to change that unless there are some consequences for someone.
"It's going to take years to launch any proceedings against a platform."
Ms McLean wants to see the number of restricted platforms extended, as many others are harming young people.
Speaking with students at a school on Friday, she said every child reported being on platforms they should not be using.
"There are young people who are harmed online, without a shadow of a doubt," she said.
"The blunt approach where we'll pick 10 and ban them and that will make the internet safer doesn't make any sense."
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Cooperation
