Australia’s center-left government has introduced a bill that aims to ban social media for children under 16, imposing fines of up to $32 million for systemic breaches. The proposed law will include an age-verification system, potentially using biometrics or government identification, to enforce the age cut-off. This would be the highest age limit set by any country, with no exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called this a landmark reform, sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act.
The opposition Liberal Party plans to support the bill, while independent parties have demanded more details. The law would impact platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and Snapchat. Children will still have access to messaging, online gaming, and certain health and education services. The government argues that excessive use of social media poses risks to children’s physical and mental health, particularly regarding body image and misogynist content.
Many countries have vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, with Australia’s policy being among the most stringent. The proposed law would require social media platforms to ensure age-verification protections are in place, with a focus on user safety. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized the need for social responsibility from platforms and the importance of safeguarding users’ personal data. Overall, the goal is to protect children from harmful content online and hold social media platforms accountable.
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