New Law Enforced
A recent law prohibiting social media access for individuals under 16 has been implemented in Australia. However, many young Australians are already discovering ways to bypass the technology that enforces this restriction.
Some teenagers have reported that the facial verification tests intended to confirm age can be easily navigated by those who are underage. A 14-year-old girl, who chose to remain anonymous, shared with Australian radio station 2GB that “there’s nothing like IDs. You just have to do a facial recognition which nearly all of my friends pass.”
Noah Jones, a 15-year-old from Sydney, recounted his experience with Snapchat, stating he simply looked at the camera and frowned slightly, which resulted in him being identified as over 16.
Additionally, some youths have successfully tricked age verification systems using drawn-on facial hair. Reports from parents indicate that these verification methods are not functioning as intended.
A parent named Jillian from New South Wales expressed her concerns about her 12-year-old daughter and her friends being misidentified as older due to makeup. She noted that even without makeup, her daughter was recognized as being over 14 years old. This raises worries about young girls potentially encountering inappropriate content online.
Another parent from Victoria shared an alarming incident where his 11-year-old son received a message on TikTok stating he was estimated to be 18 years old.
Some children are reportedly using other people’s faces for age verification checks. Yasmin London, a safety expert for Qustodio, mentioned that kids are borrowing devices or utilizing family members’ identities for these checks. While some parents are aware of this behavior, others remain oblivious; nonetheless, it highlights a significant loophole being exploited.
The search for virtual private networks (VPNs) has surged in Australia as users seek ways to access the internet without restrictions. Google searches for VPNs reached a decade-high just before the ban took effect.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remains resolute despite opposition and the reality of children finding ways around the ban. He stated, “This is the law. This isn’t something that can be flouted,” emphasizing that those still active on social media may inadvertently reveal their identities and face consequences.
