Australia Bans Social Media for Children Under 16
Australia has taken a bold step to protect the mental health of its youth by enacting a landmark law that prohibits children under the age of 16 from accessing social media. This legislation places the onus on social media platforms to prevent underage users from creating accounts, with potential fines of up to AUD 50 million for violations.
The law, which will come into effect in 12 months, has sparked heated debate. While 77% of Australians support the measure, according to a YouGov survey, tech companies have criticized the regulations as vague and impractical. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the government's commitment to protecting young Australians, stating that they want children to have a childhood and parents to know the government is on their side.
The law does not penalize children or their parents for violating the ban. Instead, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat will be required to take "reasonable steps" to enforce the minimum age requirement. Educational platforms like YouTube and messaging apps like WhatsApp are exempt from the restrictions.
Although the legislation doesn't specify how companies should verify users' ages, it notably avoids requiring government ID uploads. Platforms found non-compliant could face hefty penalties. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, criticized the legislation as "inconsistent and ineffective," calling for a delay to clarify the "reasonable steps" companies are expected to take. Elon Musk, owner of X, also opposed the law, labelling it "a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians."
Australia's move follows a growing trend of countries exploring tighter age restrictions for social media. Similar proposals are under consideration in Norway and Florida, though the latter has faced legal challenges over free speech concerns.
Social media companies now have a year to adjust to the new rules. While supporters see the law as a necessary step toward addressing the mental health crisis among young people, critics argue that its vague guidelines and enforcement challenges could make implementation difficult.