Australia has announced plans to ban all children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, a move that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called “world-leading”.
“Social media is harming children and it is time for us to act,” Albanese said at a press conference, citing the physical and mental health risks, particularly negative body image impacts on women and discriminatory content against men, as the reasons for the decision.
“If you are a 14-year-old child, exposed to these negative images and content at a sensitive stage of their life, it can be very traumatic. We have listened and we will act,” Mr Albanese stressed.
Several countries have already begun to impose restrictions on children’s use of social media, but Australia’s policy is considered the strictest. The new rules do not allow for any exemptions, even in cases of parental consent or for existing accounts.
In addition, the age verification system will use methods such as biometric identification or identification documents to help ensure the ban is effective. Australia is the first country to trial such a verification method to prevent children from using social media.
Prime Minister Albanese said the bill would be introduced in parliament this year, and would come into effect 12 months after it is passed. The opposition Liberal Party has also expressed support for the bill. Under the new rules, the onus will be on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) to ensure children under 16 cannot access it.
“What we are announcing and will be turning into law is truly world-leading,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said.
Representatives of social media platforms, including Meta, TikTok, X and Google, said that a complete ban could drive young people to unregulated platforms and lose essential support networks.
“Ensuring youth safety online is a top priority… but banning young people from using digital platforms is a 20th-century approach to 21st-century challenges,” said DIGI CEO Sunita Bose. She stressed that instead of banning, we should create age-appropriate spaces, promote digital education, and protect young people from negative influences.
