Sydney: On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to introduce legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, a move the government describes as “world-leading”. The proposal is accompanied by a trial of an age-verification system designed to help block minors from accessing social media, with the ban potentially coming into effect by the end of next year.
“Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese said at a news conference, highlighting concerns over the negative effects of social media on young users’ physical and mental health. He emphasized the specific risks for children, noting that young girls often encounter harmful body image content, while boys may be exposed to misogynistic messages.
“If you’re a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you’re going through life’s changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time. What we’re doing is listening and then acting,” he stated, stressing the importance of protecting children from content that can impact their development during a vulnerable stage in life.
The legislation will be introduced in parliament within the year, with laws expected to come into effect 12 months after parliamentary approval. According to Albanese, the proposed ban would not allow exemptions for minors with parental consent or for those who already hold accounts on these platforms.
Enforcement and Accountability on Social Media Platforms
Under the proposed law, social media companies will be responsible for implementing measures to prevent minors from accessing their platforms. “The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access,” Albanese explained. “The onus won’t be on parents or young people.”
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Communications Minister Michelle Rowland indicated that the platforms impacted would include major players like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Elon Musk’s X (formerly known as Twitter). YouTube, owned by Alphabet, is also expected to fall within the legislation’s scope. While TikTok declined to comment, Meta, Alphabet, and X have not responded to requests for input.
Global Context and Comparisons
Australia’s proposed ban would be among the strictest in the world for protecting young people from the potential harms of social media. France introduced a similar proposal last year, banning those under 15 from using social media without parental consent. In the United States, tech companies are required to obtain parental consent to collect data on children under 13, effectively barring minors under that age from most social media platforms.
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With bipartisan support, including from the opposition Liberal Party, Australia’s proposal highlights growing global concerns about the impact of social media on youth. If enacted, it would set a significant precedent in regulating social media access for children and underscores a broader international trend toward safeguarding young users.
