Possible Social Media Ban for Under 16 Year Olds

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communica­tions, Manoa Kamikamica, has described Australia's recent social media ban for children un­der 16 as a law "worth considering" for Fiji.

The Australian Parliament passed the ground-breaking legislation last Thursday, which will come into effect in 12 months.

Social media giants like Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) are required to implement age-verification systems or face fines of up to AUD$50 mil­lion (FJ$74.7m).

Gaming and messaging platforms, however, are exempt.

The law has drawn criticism from tech companies, citing a lack of consultation and its "rushed" pas­sage.

Nonetheless, Australia's move marks a world-first effort to regu­late young people's access to social media.

Fiji's response

Speaking to this masthead, Mr Ka­mikamica said Fiji must adapt to the digital age by addressing the negative impacts of social media on children.

"This law is worth considering. It is on the agenda for discussion by the National Pornography Taskforce," he said.

Mr Kamikamica, who co-chairs the taskforce, hinted at further action, saying: "This is not the only measure we will look into."

The taskforce is set to meet after Parliament concludes its current sitting, but Mr Kami­kamica refrained from detailing other potential initiatives.

Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, welcomed the dis­cussion but stressed parental responsibility.

"We can pass so many laws, but parents must prioritise their children's well-being," she said.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is studying the Australian law.

Chairperson Pravesh Sharma confirmed a statement would be issued later this week, following a thorough research.

Minister for Women, Children, and Poverty Alleviation, Lynda Tabuya, who co-chairs the Na­tional Pornography Taskforce, has yet to comment.

Feedback: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj