In a bold step to safeguard children's well-being, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese bans social media for kids under 16 years old in Australia.
"Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I'm calling time on it," Albanese said during a press briefing in Canberra while announcing the legislation.
"I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online. And I want Australian parents and families to know that the government has your back."
The Prime Minister further emphasized that the onus would be platced on social media platforms to ensure they are taking reasonable steps to prevent underage access, rather than placing the responsibility on parents or children. "The onus won't be on parents or young people. There will be no penalties for users," he clarified.
Albanese also said it doesn't matter if kids find ways around the restrictions. "We know some kids will find workarounds, but we're sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act," he said in a statement.
After sailing through Parliament’s lower house on Wednesday, the bill passed the Senate on Thursday, November 28, with bipartisan support.
Similar to laws on alcohol or tobacco, the new law will create a category of "age-restricted social media platforms" for users 16 and older. However, figuring out how to verify age online is a complicated issue.
It's also not clear exactly which platforms will be covered by the ban. The prime minister has said that Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and X will be included, but YouTube and messaging apps including WhatsApp are expected to be exempt.
In addition to the social media ban, the government plans to introduce privacy protections for data collected during age verification processes, aiming to protect children's personal information while enforcing the new rules.
ALSO READ: Responsible Social Media Use For Kids: Here's How To Empower Them
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland described the proposal as "world-leading," highlighting that the government's approach strikes a balance between minimizing harm and maintaining the benefits of online connectivity.
"What our approach does is help achieve a balance between minimizing those harms that are caused by young people accessing social media, while still enabling connection and inclusion," Rowland said.
Which other governments have tried a social media ban?
Several countries have tried to limit children's access to social media, but none have enforced a complete ban like the one currently being considered in Australia.
In July 2023, France passed a law requiring social media companies to block children under 15 unless a guardian approves. However, technical issues have delayed its enforcement.
The European Union has been considering similar rules for years. In 2015, the EU proposed a law to ban children under 16 from using the internet, but this was changed to let each country decide its own rules after facing opposition.
In May 2024, the UK's regulator, Ofcom, introduced new rules that require social media platforms to verify a user's age. These rules won't take effect until the second half of 2025. If companies don't comply, Ofcom said it will ban users under 18, but like in France, technical challenges remain.
In the US, some states have tried similar measures, but few have succeeded. Legal challenges over free speech and age verification have stopped similar rules in Texas, Arkansas, California, Ohio, and Utah.
Click here to discover how to protect your kids from scammers, cyberbullies, and other online threats.
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