Australian Government to Ban Children Under Age of 16 From Accessing Social Media

The Australian government has announced plans to introduce legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media, with penalties for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok if they fail to enforce it. The groundbreaking legislation comes amid the growing concerns over the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and safety. The initiative is designed to enhance online safety for young people and hold tech companies accountable.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference today confirmed the proposal, stating that the government aims to introduce the legislation in the Parliament this month. He emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting children online. However, it has not been specified how platforms should enforce the age limit.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland mentioned that companies could choose their own methods, possibly including biometric scans or age checks. While there will be no penalties for under-16s who access social media or for their parents, platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to block young users could face fines.

This move is part of the government’s increased focus on regulating major tech platforms.