Can you honestly say that you are sure of what your child is experiencing and exposing online? Studies show that many children simply do not tell their parents or guardians when they are being bullied or are being approached unintentionally because they are afraid of being excluded from accessing the internet and their social networks. The proposed legislative changes come after former Facebook product chief Frances Haugen claimed this month that whenever there is a conflict between the public good and what benefits the company, the social media giant will choose its own interests. At the recent meeting of the Office of the Prosecutor`s Standing Committee in Adelaide, there was a debate on Australia`s privacy laws regarding parents legally accessing their children`s Facebook accounts. During the discussion, an options document was discussed on whether the age limit for Facebook in Australia should be increased from 13 to 18, while requiring proof of age for registration. As long as parents are legally allowed to access their child`s Facebook account. I think most parents would agree that it`s always best for parents to have a relationship with their child where the child can be open about their social life and open about issues that affect them, both online and offline. However, this openness and trust depends very much on the family situation and parental relationships with the child. If the child is not in danger, morally or physically, access to his Facebook account seems very intrusive. Social media giants would face additional fines of up to $10 million for breaking the rules, up from a current maximum of $2 million. This landmark legislation aims to deter the harmful effects of online advertising targeted at children on social media platforms such as Facebook and protect Australians online through appropriate data protection laws.
Dr Webster said the changes would allow for better protection for social media users. Facebook is facing a firestorm of criticism after former employee Frances Haugen leaked internal studies showing the company was aware of the potential damage fueled by its websites, prompting U.S. lawmakers to renew a regulatory push. Seventeen million Australians use social media, but existing data protection law does not provide specific protection against the misuse of Australians` personal data via social media and other online platforms,» the bill says. Dawn.com About 7.5 million of the 20 million minors who used Facebook last year were under the age of 13, and one million of them were intimidated, harassed or threatened on the site, according to a study released Tuesday. Even more troubling, more than five million Facebook users were 10 years old or younger and were allowed to use Facebook largely without parental supervision, leaving them vulnerable to threats ranging from malware to sexual predators, according to Consumer Reports` State of the Net survey. «Read more here. It`s also easy to add strangers to Snapchat and build relationships with them, putting kids at risk of being attacked by predators.
«Our bill means that these companies will be severely penalized if they do not meet this standard,» she added. Follow the topics, people, and companies that are important to you. By Charlie Moore, political reporter for Daily Mail Australia. «We are ensuring that data and privacy are protected and handled with care,» Attorney General Michaelia Cash said in a statement. Platforms should also primarily consider the well-being of children when processing their personal data, according to the bill. Both bills follow revelations in the United States, where Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before the Senate that the social media company intentionally targets children for its Instagram and Facebook apps. It does so despite the fact that the practice violates its own guidelines. Facebook`s own studies show that its content distribution algorithms can quickly lead kids to problems such as eating disorders.
Meanwhile, under a separate law in Australia, social media companies would be held liable for defamatory content placed on their platforms.