Australia Introduces Landmark Legislation to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16
Australia’s government has unveiled groundbreaking legislation aimed at banning social media access for children under the age of 16, setting some of the strictest controls on online platforms globally.
The proposed law, introduced by the centre-left Labor government in parliament on Thursday, comes with significant penalties for non-compliance. Social media companies could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches of the new rules.
Under the new bill, Australia plans to trial an age-verification system to enforce the ban. This system could involve biometric checks or government-issued identification, marking a significant step in digital governance. Notably, the legislation proposes:
- Strict Age Limit: A complete ban on social media for children under 16, with no exceptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.
- Heavy Penalties: Social media platforms failing to comply could face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
- Privacy Protections: Platforms will be required to destroy any user data collected for age-verification purposes, ensuring robust privacy safeguards.
- Platform Responsibility: The burden of enforcing age-verification will rest entirely on social media companies, not parents or young users.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has championed the bill as a landmark reform designed to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive social media use. “This is a message to social media companies to clean up their act,” Albanese stated, acknowledging the potential for some children to find workarounds but emphasizing the broader goal of safeguarding youth.
While the bill focuses on restricting access to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter), it makes exceptions for certain services. Children will still be able to access messaging platforms, online gaming, educational tools like Google Classroom, and youth mental health support services such as Headspace.
The bill has garnered bipartisan support, with the opposition Liberal Party indicating its backing. However, independents and the Green Party have called for more details on the proposed measures and their implementation.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized the urgency of the legislation, citing alarming statistics. “Almost two-thirds of 14 to 17-year-old Australians have encountered harmful content online, including depictions of drug abuse, suicide, or self-harm,” she told parliament.
The Albanese government has been particularly vocal about the dangers of social media to children’s mental and physical health, especially the harmful effects of body image issues on girls and misogynistic content targeting boys.
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Australia’s proposed law would establish the highest age limit for social media use globally, surpassing similar initiatives in other countries.
- France: In 2022, France proposed a ban on social media for users under 15, but parental consent allowed children to bypass the restrictions.
- United States: Technology companies have long been required to obtain parental consent for accessing data of users under 13, but no federal ban exists for general social media access.
Australia’s approach aims to set a new global standard by removing parental discretion and holding platforms directly accountable for compliance.
A major focus of the bill is ensuring privacy while implementing these strict regulations. Platforms will be mandated to destroy any data collected for age verification after it has served its purpose, addressing concerns about potential misuse of personal information.
“Social media has a social responsibility,” Rowland stated, reinforcing the government’s commitment to user safety and accountability from tech companies.
If passed, this legislation will require social media companies to take immediate and tangible steps to adapt their platforms for compliance. The government also plans to test the age-verification system rigorously, exploring methods that minimize intrusion while ensuring effectiveness.
The Albanese administration’s bold move reflects growing global concerns about the impact of social media on younger generations. While critics argue that strict enforcement could pose challenges and raise privacy concerns, proponents believe this legislation is a necessary step to protect children from online harm.
As Australia positions itself at the forefront of social media regulation, the outcome of this legislation could influence similar policies worldwide, reshaping the digital landscape for the next generation.