Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday that the Australian government plans to implement a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. This legislation is part of what the government describes as a pioneering set of measures that could be enacted by late next year.
As part of these efforts, Australia is currently testing an age-verification system to help restrict children’s access to social media platforms. This initiative is part of a broader range of regulations that are among the strictest in the world to date.
Albanese expressed his concerns regarding the detrimental effects of social media on children at a press conference, stating, “Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it.”
He highlighted the negative impact of excessive social media use on both the physical and mental wellbeing of children, particularly emphasizing the harmful effects of unrealistic body image portrayals on girls and misogynistic content targeted at boys.
“If you’re a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff during such a formative period, it can be incredibly challenging. Our response is to listen and act,” Albanese remarked.
While several countries have already committed to reducing children’s social media usage through legislative measures, Australia’s policy stands out due to its rigor.
No other jurisdiction has attempted to enforce social media age restrictions using methods such as biometrics or government-issued identification, which are two approaches currently being tested in Australia.
The proposed rules would set the highest age limit for social media use anywhere in the world, with no allowances for parental consent or existing accounts.
Legislation is expected to be presented to the Australian parliament later this year, with the new laws projected to take effect one year after parliamentary approval, according to Albanese.
The opposition Liberal Party has voiced its support for the ban.
Children will not be exempted from the restrictions, even if parents consent or if they already possess social media accounts.
“Social media platforms will bear the responsibility of showing they are taking adequate steps to prevent access. The burden will not be on parents or young individuals,” Albanese stated.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland referred to the forthcoming legislation as “truly world-leading.” She noted that the platforms affected would likely include Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Bytedance’s TikTok, and Elon Musk’s X, among others, with Alphabet’s YouTube also expected to be included.
In response to the announcement, TikTok declined to comment, while Meta, Alphabet, and X did not reply to requests for statements.
The Digital Industry Group, which comprises members such as Meta, TikTok, X, and Alphabet’s Google, cautioned that the proposed measures might lead young users to less regulated areas of the internet, while hampering their access to supportive online communities.
“While ensuring the safety of young people online remains paramount, the proposed ban represents a 20th-century solution to 21st-century challenges,” commented DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose. “Instead of imposing access restrictions, a balanced approach should be adopted to create age-appropriate environments and enhance digital literacy, ultimately protecting young users from online risks,” she added.
Last year, France proposed a ban on social media for individuals under 15, though the restriction included a parental consent loophole. In the United States, regulations have long required technology companies to obtain parental consent before collecting data from children under 13, leading many social media platforms to prohibit users below that age from using their services.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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