If conducted in good faith they would have discussed it with industry like everything else they do and industry would have worked with them to produce a solution that isn't brain dead

Like zero knowledge proofs for being over 18

i agree that it’s not about protecting kids - is it ever? - but i also think that IF this were something conducted in good faith (it’s not), then the process would be pretty similar: gated access is the easy fix, so you work that out first (like a minimum viable product), and then work on the harder parts later

The dot points read like an instruction guide to me. I was musing about a week ago about making a backup Facebook account ahead of time and subscribing to insurance companies and marriage memes pages, or staging a trip to France.

membership in youth-focused groups, forums or communities

My Little Pony fans have been warned.

I have instructed my two kids to NEVER give age verification documents and identity to websites and plan on helping my youngest circumvent it after they turn 16 because i don't want them on social media anyway.

Yeah, no carve out. The only way to be exempted is for them to specifically choose to exempt you. Or if you're for one of the specific purposes listed as exempt, like education and work.

According to the AFR...almost literally any. Many platforms don't even stop you if you tell them you're under 16. And none seemed to stop you viewing content if you told them you're an adult, without any further verification.

Oh good, I thought I failed

I have a real 14-year-old in my house. I should see what accounts he can manage to create for himself.

Not instantly. I'll go through all the DMs soon (I was going to go through them on the weekend but, December) and send replies. Yes, replies will come from Molly.

Great idea. Adding Lemmy and Mastodon to my 4-digit Slashdot.org profile now.

Edit. Done, sort off.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/09/2112230/millions-of-australian-teens-lose-access-to-social-media-as-ban-takes-effect

At this rate I think I'm going to pretend to be under sixteen and work out ways to get onto every age verified site..

I might even post about my findings for science "journalism" on some random pages that don't have age verifications.

Is she supposed to reply?

I haven't seen any cutout for small sites, you have to comply if meeting the criteria. You'd just be breaking the law and hoping the govt doesn't come knocking

Comments on reddit are suggesting that the fediverse is simply too small to come under this law btw

Also, how is the verification process working there rn?

Nailed it

They could just release some tools to parents to monitor/block sites but that would be too logical

What that means technically is that the Fediverse could just allow non-account posting whilst verifying everyone who makes accounts. What a laughable law. At least in the UK, we didn't allow such a loophole even if we can't do anything to 4chan.

Whelp, forgot to get a photo from a pub. Hopefully it's fine to get a photo on the 10th... Otherwise all I have to show is my old Gameboy colour and Pokemon games from when I was a kid...

Proof it's not about "protecting children" when the most child unfriendly social media sites are not impacted

They could probably just geoblock 4chan I guess? Maybe? Or try to? I don’t know what the government think they’re going to do. But Mississippi residents did get geoblocked from Bsky.

Well yeah, literally all they could do is geoblock 4chan.

Edit: Ok, so they ‘have no plan to ban VPNs’, but ‘are looking very closely into their usage’. I have no idea what that means.

I am a Brit.

Absolutely nothing lol.

That's fine, but it's an obvious technicality isn't it?

"Oh your side has outrageous content that could harm children? Oh, it's okay. You don't have user accounts. Carry on."

4chan doesn't require user accounts, the law only applies to platforms where you need user accounts

I'll post my scrotum and ask if they have ever seen a 16yos ball sack with that many wrinkles.

Of course, I'd be as outraged as everyone else haha

But if anyone wants to post their own here I think there might be some amusing ones for sure.

Junket is so underrated. Def needs a comeback. Pink panna cotta!