Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced on Thursday that the government will legislate a ban on social media for children under the age of 16. This policy aims to protect young people from potential harm associated with social media use and is expected to be among the first of its kind globally.
“Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese said during a news conference. The legislation, set to be introduced in parliament this year, will come into effect 12 months after being passed. Notably, the law will not allow exemptions for parental consent, placing the responsibility on social media platforms to enforce age restrictions.
Social media platforms impacted by the proposed law include major sites like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, according to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. The legislation mandates that these platforms take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from accessing their services.
The push for the higher age limit of 16 marks a shift from previous proposals, which delayed setting a specific cutoff until a trial of age verification technology was complete. In line with the policy, Albanese confirmed there would be no “grandfathering” exemptions for young people already on social media.
A national cabinet meeting will take place on Friday to discuss the changes, seeking support from state and territory leaders. The new age restrictions, if passed, will be reviewed a year after their implementation to assess their effectiveness.
Despite social media’s potential benefits, such as keeping young people connected, Rowland stressed that online platforms can lead to serious harms, including mental health issues. “As a mother of two young daughters, I understand this personally,” Rowland said, underscoring the government’s stance that online safety for children is a priority.
The onus of enforcing the age restriction will lie with social media companies, not with parents. Platforms will need to adapt to the updated definition of age-restricted social media platforms based on the Online Safety Act, with the possibility of exemptions for “low-risk” platforms.
While similar age limits exist on some platforms, they have been difficult to enforce effectively. Albanese expressed hope that the legislation would set a societal standard, likening it to laws that prevent the sale of alcohol to minors.
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