Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What social networking sites do you use often?
- Is your country strict in terms of online media? Please tell me more about it.
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- acquire /uh-KWAHYUHR/
- penalty /PEN-l-tee/
- draft /drahft/
- authority /uh-THAWR-i-tee/
- reprimand /REP-ruh-mand/
[verb] – to obtain or begin to have something
Her family acquired the property in 1996.
[noun] – a punishment, or the usual punishment, for doing something that is against a law
What is the penalty for dangerous driving?
[noun] – a piece of text, a formal suggestion, or a drawing in its original state, often containing the main ideas and intentions but not the developed form
They presented their draft of the proposal to the president.
[noun] – the moral or legal right or ability to control
Policemen have the authority to arrest lawbreakers.
[verb] – to tell someone officially that they have done something wrong
Law officers reprimanded him for his actions.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Australia plans to have social media companies acquire parental consent for users under 16 years old, with penalties of up to 10 million Australian dollars (859 million Japanese Yen) for those that will not be able to comply, under the draft Online Privacy Bill published on October 25, 2021.
According to the bill, forums and dating apps such as Reddit and Bumble would also be required to take all needed actions to determine users’ ages and focus on children’s interests when gathering data. The newly submitted online regulations would put Australia among the strictest countries in terms of age controls for social media. This is in support of Australia’s goal to toughen laws against online misinformation and abuse. “We are ensuring [Australians’] data and privacy will be protected and handled with care,” said Attorney-General Michaelia Cash in a statement. “Our draft legislations means that these companies will be punished heavily if they don’t meet that standard,” she added. Under the draft law, full authority would be given to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, which includes the ability to reprimand a corporation for any violation.
According to the bill, forums and dating apps such as Reddit and Bumble would also be required to take all needed actions to determine users’ ages and focus on children’s interests when gathering data. The newly submitted online regulations would put Australia among the strictest countries in terms of age controls for social media. This is in support of Australia’s goal to toughen laws against online misinformation and abuse. “We are ensuring [Australians’] data and privacy will be protected and handled with care,” said Attorney-General Michaelia Cash in a statement. “Our draft legislations means that these companies will be punished heavily if they don’t meet that standard,” she added. Under the draft law, full authority would be given to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, which includes the ability to reprimand a corporation for any violation.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- For what ages is the social media parental consent in Australia?
- How much would be the penalty for those companies that will not comply?
- When was the draft of the Online Privacy Bill published?
- What is the goal of this bill, according to the article?
- Who is in full authority in this privacy bill?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you benefit from using social media?
- What are some social media policies that your country imposes?
- If you were a parent, would you allow your child under 16 years old to use social media? Why or why not?
- Do you think governments have the right to censor the Internet?
- In your opinion, does social media changes people’s behavior? Please explain your answer.