Australia is planning to introduce a ban on children using social media, with a minimum age limit potentially set as high as 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced. The move comes as part of a federal push to address concerns about the harmful effects of social media on young people.
“We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm,” Albanese said during an interview with the national broadcaster, ABC. The prime minister described the negative impact of social media on youth as a “scourge,” and confirmed that legislation aimed at keeping children off platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will be introduced later this year.
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While the exact minimum age for social media access is still under discussion, Albanese indicated that it could fall between 14 and 16, with his personal preference being 16. An age verification trial is currently underway to explore potential enforcement methods.
“I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields, the swimming pools, and the tennis courts,” the prime minister emphasized.
Opposition Supports, Experts Warn
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has expressed support for the government’s proposal, stressing that further delays would leave children vulnerable. “Every day of delay leaves young kids at risk of the harms of social media. We can no longer rely on tech companies to enforce age limits,” Dutton said.
However, experts have voiced concerns about the potential unintended consequences of the legislation. Professor Daniel Angus from the Queensland University of Technology criticized the plan as “reckless” and warned it could exclude children from positive online experiences. “This knee-jerk move undermines the joint parliamentary inquiry into social media’s impact on Australian society and may push children into lower-quality online spaces,” Angus said.
Toby Murray, an associate professor in computing and information technology at the University of Melbourne, raised doubts about the effectiveness of age verification technology. “Current methods are either unreliable, easy to circumvent, or pose risks to user privacy,” Murray explained.
Despite the criticism, Albanese maintains that the government must act to protect children from the dangers of online bullying and harmful content. “These social media companies think they’re above everyone. Well, they have a social responsibility, and we’re determined to make sure they exercise it,” he said.
Key Points:
- Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children: The Australian government plans to ban children from using social media, with a potential minimum age limit between 14 and 16, as high as 16.
- Prime Minister’s Remarks: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that social media is causing “social harm” and described its impact on youth as a “scourge.” He emphasized the importance of children engaging in real-life experiences over online platforms.
- Legislation and Age Verification: Federal legislation to enforce the age limit is expected this year. A trial to test age verification methods is currently underway.
- Opposition Support: Conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton supports the proposed age limit, calling for immediate action to protect children from the harms of social media.
- Expert Criticism: Analysts, including Professor Daniel Angus, warn that the move may have negative consequences, potentially pushing children into unsafe online spaces. Questions were also raised about the reliability of age verification technology.
- Government’s Response: Despite criticism, Albanese insists that the government must act to protect children from online bullying and harmful content, holding social media companies accountable for their responsibility.
