Protecting Children in the Digital Age: The Impact of Global Laws and Social Media Algorithms

Protecting Children in the Digital Age: How Global Laws and Social Media Platform's Algorithm are Shaping Social Media Use

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Social media is now a crucial part of daily life, especially for youth, serving as both an entertainment source and a means of connection on platforms like Instagram, snapchat and other. However, with the growing popularity of these sites, there is increasing concern over the spread of harmful content such as pornography, obscene material, and cyberbullying. As a result, whole world are taking bold steps to protect minors from the dangers posed by unregulated digital spaces.

This blog explores recent Instagram's algorithm and its amplification of harmful content, India’s legal efforts to curb explicit material, and Australia’s groundbreaking move to ban social media for children under 16. Additionally, we’ll discuss what actions individuals in India can take if they encounter harmful material online.

Social media platform’s Algorithm: Double-Edged Sword for Content Moderation

some social media platform's algorithm, intended to increase user engagement by focusing on posts with the most likes, shares, and comments, has inadvertently spread harmful content. This is especially problematic for young users who are exposed to explicit material, body-shaming, and exploitative imagery while using the platform.

How Algorithm Works

Algorithm is based on user engagement metrics, meaning that the more any piece of content engages users (through likes, comments, shares), the more likely it is to appear in users' feeds, stories, or on the Explore page. This “engagement-driven” approach tends to favor content that is controversial or emotionally charged, which can include explicit or vulgar material, especially if it receives more interactions.

Algorithm Amplification Example:

Viral Content: When explicit content or provocative images, such as body-shaming or sexualized material, receive high engagement due to shock value or curiosity, Instagram’s algorithm can push this content to a larger audience, including vulnerable teenagers.

Clickbait or Inappropriate Content: Accounts that use clickbait titles, suggestive captions, or share sexually explicit images may attract massive engagement, which can cause such posts to go viral. This inadvertently exposes young users to material that violates social platform’s own content guidelines.

Social Platform’s Response to Combat Harmful Content

To address these issues, Instagram has rolled out several measures aimed at reducing the spread of explicit and harmful content:

AI-Powered Detection: Instagram uses artificial intelligence to scan and remove content that violates community guidelines, such as pornography, hate speech, and graphic violence.

Sensitive Content Filters: Users can filter sensitive content in their feeds and Explore tabs, reducing exposure to explicit material.

Enhanced Age Verification: Instagram has implemented more robust age verification processes to protect underage users from harmful content.

Despite these efforts, engagement-driven algorithms continue to pose the greatest risk. Harmful content still gets amplified, and it can negatively affect vulnerable users, potentially contributing to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.

Legal Frameworks in India: Combating Pornography and Offensive Content

India, with its massive internet user base, finds it increasingly difficult to control the spread of online pornography and other offensive materials. The government has introduced measures to establish a legal framework for regulating digital content, but the sheer volume of online activity and cross-border sharing of content makes enforcement challenging.

Major Indian Laws Related to Online Harmful Content

India has passed several laws to regulate online content, particularly material harmful to children and the general public:

Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act): This act criminalizes the transmission of obscene material over the internet, with provisions under Sections 66, 66C, and 67 specifically targeting cybercrimes, including the dissemination of pornography.

Indian Penal Code (IPC): Sections 292 and 293 criminalize the sale, distribution, and demonstration of obscene material, including child pornography.

POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences): This law focuses on the protection of children from sexual offenses, such as the sharing of child pornography via the internet.

Digital Media Ethics Code (2021): This regulation mandates that social media platforms act immediately to remove harmful or offensive content, including pornography, from their platforms.

What Can One Do in India?

If an individual encounters harmful or obscene content in India, there are specific legal measures they can take:

File a Complaint with the Police: If someone comes across illegal or explicit material, they can report it to the police under relevant sections of the IPC or IT Act. In cases involving children, the POCSO Act can be invoked.

Report on Social Media Platforms: Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter offer built-in reporting mechanisms where users can flag explicit content. Once flagged, such content must be removed within a short time frame according to the law.

File a Digital Complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: The Indian government has established the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, where users can file complaints about cybercrimes, including the distribution of pornography or harassment on social media.

Despite these available legal avenues, enforcement remains inconsistent. Advocacy groups argue for more effective use of technology to monitor and prevent the spread of harmful content and streamline the legal processes for reporting violations.

Australia’s Bold Move: A Nationwide Ban on Social Media for Under-16s

Australia has set a global precedent by passing a law that prohibits children aged 16 and under from accessing various social media platforms. The legislation, set to take effect in the next 12 months, is one of the most stringent measures worldwide against the risks of children’s involvement in social media.

Australia’s Social Media Ban: Key Provisions

Age Limit: The law sets the minimum age for social media use at 16, making it the highest age limit imposed by any country. This law applies to major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Enforcement Mechanism: The government will impose heavy fines (up to A$50 million) on social media companies that fail to comply with the age restrictions. Platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, possibly using biometric or identity data.

Exemptions: Certain platforms like YouTube (which does not require account creation for basic access) and gaming platforms are exempt from the law.

The Benefits of the Australian Law

Protection Against Inappropriate Content: The law directly addresses the harmful exposure of minors to material such as cyberbullying, pornography, and obscene content.

Health Benefits: Limiting social media use reduces mental health issues associated with online bullying, negative body image, and addiction to platforms.

Global Precedent: Australia’s legislation sets a precedent for other countries to take similar action, potentially reshaping the global digital landscape for children.

Potential Disadvantages:

Impact on Social Connectivity: Social media is a key way for young people to maintain social relationships. A ban may lead to feelings of loneliness or exclusion.
Privacy Concerns: The use of biometric age verification technologies raises significant privacy issues. Sensitive personal data, such as face scans or ID information, could be misused or exposed to breaches.
Circumvention by Tech-Savvy Minors: As with other age-related restrictions, children may bypass the law using tools like VPNs or fake age profiles, making enforcement challenging.

Trends in Social Media Regulation Across the World

Australia’s law is part of a growing global trend to regulate social media usage among children. Other countries are also introducing or considering similar laws:

France has introduced a law requiring parental consent for children under 15 to access social media platforms.
Utah, United States: The law imposing parental consent for minors under 18 was recently overturned by a federal judge citing concerns about its potential constitutional issues.
The European Union and China have implemented strict online behavior regulations targeting children’s access to digital content, social media platforms, and even gaming.

These global actions highlight a growing recognition of the risks of unregulated digital spaces, especially for vulnerable populations like children. However, enforcement remains a challenge due to the global nature of the internet and the use of privacy tools like VPNs.

Conclusion: Striking the Right Balance

As concerns about online harm grow, governments around the world are taking more assertive actions to protect minors from the risks associated with social media. Instagram’s algorithm, while innovative, continues to amplify harmful content despite efforts to address it. In India, the legal framework is evolving to better address pornography and harmful material, but enforcement is still lacking. Australia’s move to limit social media access for children under 16 is a bold step in setting a global precedent, though it raises important questions about privacy and the potential for circumvention by minors.

The key challenge moving forward will be finding a balance between protecting children’s digital well-being and ensuring that they have the freedom to explore and connect in a safe online environment. As global trends shift, monitoring the effectiveness of these laws and their impact on both children and the broader digital landscape will be crucial in shaping the future of online regulations.

Primebalance Advisory