The Australian government has announced plans to introduce legislation next week that would ban children under 16 from using social media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the new laws aim to reduce the risks associated with social media for young Australians.
“This is for the mums and dads,” said Albanese. “I want Australian families to know that the government has your back as we work to keep our kids safe online.”
The proposed laws will require social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from accessing their services, placing the responsibility on these companies to enforce age restrictions.
However, the ban will not apply to young people who are already using social media, and no exemptions will be allowed based on parental consent.
The eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s online regulator, will oversee enforcement, though there will be no penalties for individual users.
If passed, the legislation would go into effect 12 months after becoming law and would be reviewed after implementation.
While many experts agree that social media can impact the mental health of young people, opinions are divided on whether banning access is effective.
Some argue that a ban could delay, rather than prepare, young people for online challenges.
Past attempts to restrict social media access, such as those by the European Union, have struggled with opposition from tech companies and technical challenges around enforcing age restrictions.
Child advocacy groups in Australia are also divided.
The Australian Child Rights Taskforce criticized the proposed ban, calling it “too blunt an instrument.”
In an open letter to the government, they argued that social media platforms should be subject to stronger safety standards, rather than an outright ban.
The group referenced UN guidelines recommending that regulations aim to provide safe, beneficial access to the digital world for children.
Conversely, other campaigners have pushed for the legislation, stating it is necessary to protect children from harmful content, bullying, and misinformation.
The petition-based group 36Months, with over 125,000 signatures, argues that children under 16 lack the maturity to handle social networks safely and warns that excessive use could negatively impact their mental development.
Albanese dismissed the idea that education alone would be enough to help young people navigate social media, pointing to the influence of social media algorithms.
“These tech companies are incredibly powerful, and these apps have algorithms that can drive certain behaviors,” he said. “It’s not realistic to assume a level playing field between a child and a major tech platform.”
