Australia to ban children from nine social media platformsーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• Social Media Ban for Minors
• Age Verification Challenges
• Caning as a Penalty for Scammers
• Combating Fraud
• Dowry System
• Dowry-Related Violence and Death
• Grassroots Support Groups
• Women's Rights Advocacy

Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 in Australia

Australia is set to become the first country to implement a social media ban for individuals under the age of 16. This restriction will affect nine platforms and is scheduled to be enforced starting next month, specifically on December 10th. The stated objective of this policy is to "have children have a childhood and we want parents to have peace of mind." The ban will encompass major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

Key Provisions:

• Obligation on Platforms: Social media companies will be legally required to implement measures to prevent users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts.
• Enforcement Date: The law will take effect on December 10th.

Challenges and Opposition:

• Platform Opposition: Many platform operators have expressed opposition, arguing that the decision was made without sufficient deliberation.
• Technical Hurdles: Observers have raised doubts about the policy's effectiveness, citing technical difficulties, particularly in verifying user ages.
• Compliance: Despite opposition, some companies, including Meta (operator of Facebook and Instagram), have stated their intention to comply with the new law.

Caning as a Penalty for Scammers in Singapore

Singapore is introducing caning as a penalty for scammers in an effort to combat a surge in fraud cases. Parliament passed amendments to the criminal law on Tuesday, which will allow convicted scammers, syndicate members, and recruiters to receive between six and 24 strokes of a cane, depending on the severity of their offenses. Individuals who facilitate scams by providing SIM cards and bank accounts can also face this punishment.

Government Rationale:

• Combating Prevalent Crime: The Singaporean government views this measure as part of its broader strategy to combat scams, which it identifies as the country's most prevalent crime.
• Escalating Losses: Authorities reported over 51,000 scam cases in 2024, resulting in total losses of at least 840 million US dollars. This represents a 70% increase in losses from the previous year.

Application of Caning:

• Existing Practice: Singapore already utilizes caning as a punishment for other offenses, including robbery and serious sexual and violent crimes.
• Restrictions: The penalty is exclusively imposed on male offenders below the age of 50.

The Persistent Issue of Dowry in India

In India, dowry is a traditional custom where the bride's family provides cash or valuables to the groom's family. Although banned in 1961, the practice continues to exist, often leading to dowry-related violence and even death for young women. Officials reported over 6,000 deaths in such cases in 2023.

Case Study: Mayori Goravser

• Tragic Incident: In Maharashtra, 23-year-old Mayori Goravser died by suicide on September 10th, just four months after her marriage.
• Escalating Demands: The torture began upon her arrival at her husband's home. During the engagement, her fiancé and his family demanded over $730 for a gold ring. These demands escalated to include money for wedding attire for the entire family and furniture for the new home, totaling approximately $11,000.
• Financial Burden: Mayori's parents had already handed over more than $9,000 in several installments.
• Abuse and Death: Her husband reportedly abused her when payments were delayed. In a phone call on the day of her death, she expressed being tortured and pleaded for money, but before her family could provide it, she had passed away.

Grassroots Efforts to Combat Dowry:

• Support Group Activities: A support group has been actively working at the grassroots level for the past eight years to eradicate dowry.
• Educational Materials: The group compiles books on women's rights and has visited 5,000 villages across India, distributing 300,000 copies.
• Personal Testimony: Sonia Dande, a member of the group for three years who was herself affected by dowry-related abuse, emphasizes the importance of knowledge: "To change something we must have knowledge about it. One cannot change anything if one has no idea what is right and what is wrong."
• Empowering Women: Dande encourages young women to advocate for their rights, stating, "Is money more important than someone's life? Tell your parents that instead of spending money on dowry, they should spend it on education so that tomorrow you will not need to pay a dowry."
• Inspiring Change: The group's efforts are yielding results. One man, inspired by their campaign, refused dowry when he married five years ago, stating, "In Indian culture, this is a big social evil and we must remove it. When my son gets married, it will surely happen without dowry."
• Long-Term Commitment: The group acknowledges that ending the dowry tradition will be a long fight, stating, "Till the day the dowry tradition is ended, we will continue the fight. It's possible the change will come after many years. So we will keep fighting so that the next generation should not be forced to commit suicide and not face torture over dowry."
• Mindset Shift: The ongoing efforts aim to change people's mindsets in India to ensure women do not suffer in marriage due to this deeply rooted tradition.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The broadcast highlights significant legislative and societal developments across different countries. Australia's proactive stance on protecting minors online through a social media ban for those under 16, despite technical challenges, signals a growing concern for child welfare in the digital age. Singapore's introduction of caning for scammers underscores a severe response to escalating fraud, reflecting the economic and personal impact of cybercrime. Meanwhile, India continues its struggle against the deeply entrenched dowry system, with tragic consequences for women. The persistent efforts of grassroots organizations, coupled with individual advocacy, demonstrate a commitment to challenging deeply rooted social evils and fostering a future where women are not subjected to violence or death due to financial demands within marriage. These diverse initiatives, from technological regulation to penal reform and social activism, collectively point towards ongoing global efforts to address critical issues impacting individual safety, societal well-being, and the protection of vulnerable populations.