Australia has passed legislation banning children under 16 from using social media, making it the first country in the world to enforce such stringent rules, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Acccording to a media release, the law requires tech giants like Meta and TikTok to prevent minors from logging in or face fines of up to $49.5 million.
A trial enforcement will begin in January, with the ban taking effect in one year.
The Social Media Minimum Age Bill positions Australia as a test case for governments worldwide considering age restrictions on social media due to mental health concerns.
While countries like France and some US states restrict access without parental consent, Australia’s ban is absolute, unlike Florida’s under-14 ban, which is being challenged on free speech grounds, according to Reuters.
The law’s passage on the final day of Australia’s parliamentary year is a political win for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ahead of the 2025 election.
The bill was crafted after extensive consultations with young Australians, parents, experts, and industry groups and is part of the government’s broader efforts to hold platforms accountable for user safety.
Despite opposition from privacy and child rights groups, 77% of Australians supported the ban, according to recent polls.
The government plans to use age-verification technology, which platforms must implement themselves, but digital experts warn it may not be foolproof and could raise privacy concerns.
Critics also note that tools like VPNs could easily bypass restrictions, though children who circumvent the rules won’t face penalties.
‘For too long parents have had this impossible choice between giving in and getting their child an addictive device or seeing their child isolated and feeling left out,’ Amy Friedlander, who was among those lobbying for the ban, recently told the BBC.
‘We’ve been trapped in a norm that no one wants to be a part of.’
Many experts argue the ban is too blunt and could drive children to less regulated areas of the internet.
According to the BBC, Google, Snap, Meta, and TikTok all criticised the lack of clarity in the bill, with Meta calling it ‘ineffective’ and TikTok warning the definition of social media platform was too broad.
X questioned the bill’s compatibility with international laws and human rights treaties.
Youth advocates accused the government of misunderstanding social media’s role in young people’s lives and excluding them from the debate.
‘We understand we are vulnerable to the risks and negative impacts of social media… but we need to be involved in developing solutions,’ wrote the eSafety Youth Council.
‘Social media can be a place of learning and knowledge for us.’
‘We appreciate the ease and efficiency of accessing a range of local and international news via social media platforms, allowing us to stay informed and updated with events from around the world,’ said the eSafety Youth Council
The Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland says that inaction was not an option.
‘We’ve listened to young people, parents and carers, experts, and industry in developing these landmark laws to ensure they are centred on protecting young people – not isolating them.’
‘Good government is about facing up to difficult reform – we know these laws are novel, but to do nothing is simply not an option.’
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