The Australian government announced new legislation that would set an age limit of 16 years for children to start using social media platforms such as X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described social media as harmful to children and stated that platforms would be held responsible for ensuring compliance with the new age limit. The legislation is set to be introduced in Parliament and would take effect 12 months after being passed.
Albanese emphasized that the responsibility would lie with social media platforms to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access by children under 16. There would be penalties for breaching the age limit, but parents and underage children would not be penalized. However, some have expressed concerns about driving social media use underground if a ban is implemented, which may lead to a lack of support for young people facing issues online.
While Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, stated that it would respect any age limitations imposed by the government, others argued that stronger tools for parents to control their children’s online activities would be more effective than an outright ban. The Digital Industry Group Inc. criticized the age limit as a “20th Century response to 21st Century challenges” and called for a more balanced approach to protect young people from online harm while promoting digital literacy.
There has been opposition from academics and mental health professionals who believe that an age limit of 16 may not effectively address the risks associated with social media use among young people. Some suggested that a lower minimum age would be more enforceable, while others expressed concerns about potentially driving social media use underground. Albanese stated that there would be exclusions and exemptions for certain circumstances, but parental consent would not override the age limit of 16 for social media access.
The eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s online watchdog, will provide guidance based on a trial of age-restriction technologies to help platforms comply with the new legislation. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland underscored the need for enhanced penalties to ensure compliance with the age limit. The main opposition party has given in-principle support for the age limit at 16, emphasizing that platforms have the technology to enforce the ban and should be held accountable for complying with Australian law.
Overall, the proposed legislation in Australia aims to protect children under 16 from potential harm on social media platforms by setting an age limit for their use. While some have raised concerns about the effectiveness of such a ban, the government is moving ahead with its plans to introduce the legislation in Parliament and hold platforms accountable for ensuring compliance with the new age limit. The debate over regulating young people’s use of social media continues as governments around the world grapple with similar challenges in overseeing technology and ensuring online safety for children.
