Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday that the Australian government intends to introduce legislation banning social media access for children under the age of 16. This initiative is part of what the administration touts as a groundbreaking package of measures that could be enacted by the end of next year.
Australia is currently piloting an age-verification system aimed at preventing minors from using social media platforms, which is part of a broader set of regulations deemed among the most stringent imposed globally.
“Social media is causing harm to our kids, and it’s time to take action,” Albanese stated during a press conference.
The Prime Minister highlighted the severe implications of excessive social media use on children’s physical and mental health, particularly noting the adverse effects on girls regarding body image and the exposure of boys to misogynistic content.
“For a 14-year-old navigating life changes and maturation, encountering such harmful content can be quite challenging. We are here to listen and take necessary actions,” he added.
While several countries are moving to limit children’s social media usage through legislative measures, Australia’s proposed legislation stands out for its rigor.
No other region has yet attempted to enforce age restrictions on social media via biometric data or government identification, both of which are being tested in Australia.
Among Australia’s innovative proposals is a strict age limit, with no exemptions for parental consent or existing accounts.
The government plans to introduce the relevant legislation in parliament this year, with enforcement set to begin 12 months after approval by lawmakers, according to Albanese.
The opposition Liberal Party has shown support for the proposed ban.
Under the new rules, children would not be able to bypass the ban even with parental permission or if they already possess accounts.
“Social media companies will be responsible for taking appropriate measures to restrict access. Parents and young users will not bear this onus,” Albanese noted.
“What we are proposing is truly world-leading,” added Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
According to Rowland, the platforms included in the legislation will entail Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Bytedance’s TikTok, and X, owned by Elon Musk. Alphabet’s YouTube is also expected to be affected by these new laws.
While TikTok declined to comment, Meta, Alphabet, and X have not responded to inquiries regarding the legislation.
The Digital Industry Group, which represents companies including Meta, TikTok, X, and Google, expressed concern that this ban could push young users towards more dangerous and unregulated areas of the internet while restricting their access to support networks.
“Ensuring the safety of young individuals online is a paramount concern, but a blanket ban on teenage access to digital platforms is an outdated response to contemporary challenges,” stated DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose.
“Instead of imposing bans, we should focus on building age-appropriate digital spaces, enhancing digital literacy, and safeguarding children from online threats,” she emphasized.
Last year, France proposed a social media ban for users under 15 but allowed exceptions with parental consent. In the United States, for decades, technology companies have been required to obtain parental approval to handle the data of children under 13, which has led most social media platforms to restrict access for users younger than that age.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
