Australia Introduces Under-16 Social Media Ban

Australia Sets Minimum Age for Social Media Access

“Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it...” 

Australia introduces stringent social media regulations to protect youth mental health.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to introduce legislation banning social media usage for children under 16. This move aims to protect young Australians from online harms and support parents and caregivers.

Albanese emphasized the need for regulation, stating, “Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it.” The proposed law is part of a comprehensive approach to address online risks, including cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content.

Key aspects of the initiative include:

Age-Verification System: Australia will pilot a system to prevent minors from accessing social media platforms.

Stringent Regulations: The country will implement some of the world's toughest online safety measures.

National Cooperation: Federal legislation will be developed in collaboration with state and territory governments.

Critics, like Caroline Thain from Headspace, caution that banning social media could limit young people's access to mental health resources and hinder their ability to voice concerns on critical issues.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed the risks of excessive social media use on children's physical and mental well-being, particularly the harm caused by negative body image portrayals affecting girls and misogynistic content targeting boys.

“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 and what we're doing is listening and then acting,” Albanese said.

Australia's response to these concerns is unprecedented, with plans to ban social media for children under 16 by late next year, making it one of the strictest policies globally. The government will introduce legislation enforcing this age limit, requiring social media services to comply or face penalties.

Australia is pioneering a groundbreaking approach to social media age restrictions, utilizing biometrics and government-issued IDs for age verification - a method unseen elsewhere. This innovative strategy aims to safeguard children from online harms and support parents.

Aspects of Australia's proposal include:

Highest Age Threshold: The country has set the highest age limit globally, with no exceptions for parental consent or existing accounts.

No Exceptions: Children under 16 will not be allowed on social media, regardless of parental consent or pre-existing accounts.

Legislative Timeline: The legislation will be presented to parliament later this year, taking effect 12 months post-passage.

“The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access,” emphasizing the responsibility of social media companies to enforce these regulations.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced that Australia's proposed social media ban for kids under 16 will be “truly world leading.” The ban will impact major platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

Rowland's statement underscores Australia's commitment to protecting children from online harms. However, not everyone is convinced. The Digital Industry Group warned that this measure could drive young people to unregulated areas of the internet, limiting their access to support networks.

Affected companies, including Meta, Alphabet, and X, have yet to comment, while TikTok declined to comment. Critics argue that such bans may worsen social harms and aren't effective.

“Keeping young people safe online is a top priority but the proposed ban for teenagers to access digital platforms is a 20th Century response to 21st Century challenges,” Managing Director of Digi, Sunita Bose said.

“Rather than blocking access through bans, we need to take a balanced approach to create age-appropriate spaces, build digital literacy and protect young people from online harm,” She added.