The academic at the Faculty of Communication and Image (FCEI) analyzed social media regulation and the challenges involved in age verification on Radio Universidad de Chile’s “Educación en el Aire” (Education on the Air). analizó la regulación de redes sociales y los retos que conlleva la verificación de edad en “Educación en el Aire” de Radio Universidad de Chile
On Tuesday, January 13th, Professor Patricia Peña, co-researcher of the Fondecyt Project on #RegulaciónConvergente, was a guest on the show “Educación en el Aire” of Radio Universidad de Chile, hosted by journalist Diana Porras. In the conversation, she addressed current discussions on digital platforms, adolescence and regulatory responses in the post-pandemic scenario.
The central theme of the episode was the case of Australia, where since late 2025, a law establishes obligations for certain online platforms to verify age and adopt measures to block access to minors under age 16 in a context of concern about addiction, mental health, body image and risks of harassment or exploitation.
Peña explained that this is an internationally observed “legislative and social experiment”, stressing a key point: “minors” are not forbidden in the abstract but specific duties are imposed on platform owner companies.
The interview delved into the main operational challenge of these types of regulations: how to verify age. Peña warned about the increasing use of biometric tests (for instance, facial recognition) and sensitive data processing, as well as risks associated with storage and potential leaks in an ecosystem in which security incidents are part of the problem. She also emphasized the institutional role of the e-safety commissioner in Australia and open questions about the scope of the verification, including pre-existing accounts and aliases. e-safety commissioner en Australia y las dudas abiertas sobre el alcance de la verificación, incluyendo cuentas preexistentes y seudónimos.
From a governance perspective, the academic underlined the need for multi-stakeholder approaches that consider the responsibilities of platforms, the State, educational communities and families. She also cautioned against evasion strategies (such as VPN use) and moving to less regulated spaces. Regarding Chile, she linked the debate to digital literacy, recalling previous recommendations on disinformation and the structural issue of regulating platforms without local representation, along with recent examples of controversies over the use of generative AI for image manipulation.
“Educación en el Aire” is a University Senate show broadcasted on Tuesdays at 6.00 p.m. on 102.5 FM.
Listen to the conversation below::
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