Australia Has Announced It Is Planning To Ban Social Media For Children Under The Age Of 16
Under the law, social media companies will be responsible for enforcing the age limit.
Australia’s prime minister is planning to implement a “world leading” law to ban social media for children under the age of 16.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposed legislation on Thursday Nov. 7, citing concerns over social media's negative effects on children's mental and physical health.
"Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I'm calling time on it,” Albanese said at a press conference.
“I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online,” he added.
Albanese highlighted how social media has exposed girls to body image pressures and boys to “misogynistic” content.
"I don't know about you, but I get things popping up on my system that I don't want to see, let alone a vulnerable 14-year-old," he said, according to ABC.
He said there would be exceptions for educational use of social media, but parents alone would not be able to grant permission for children under 16 to use these platforms.
Social media companies will be responsible for enforcing this age limit and demonstrating that they are taking the necessary steps to prevent access to children under 16.
If companies don’t comply, they could face hefty fines, but there won’t be penalties for minors or their parents.
“The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access. The onus won’t be on parents or young people,” Albanese said in his speech.
According to Albanese, the new law will also not include “grandfathering arrangements,” meaning children under 16 who already have social media accounts will not be allowed to keep them.
The legislation – the first of its kind in the world – will be introduced in the Australian parliament in November and will be implemented a year after it is passed.
If passed, Australia’s law would be one of the strictest in the world when it comes to children's access to social media.
There are still many details of the proposed law that are still unclear, including the process of age verification.
The government has proposed different forms of identification including IDs and biometrics, but some have raised concerns over data and privacy protections of minors.
No country has so far required age checks that rely on facial recognition or official identification documents, according to Reuters.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions. While many support it as a way to protect children, some experts worry it could lead kids to hide their online activities, which makes it less likely for them to ask their parents for help if things go wrong.
They also argue that many young Australians use social media for mental health support and to connect with friends and peers.
Others suggest that banning social media may only delay children's exposure to online risks instead of addressing the main causes of those risks.
In 2023, France proposed a similar ban for those under 15, butFrance's proposal allowed parental consent, making it less strict than Australia’s.
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