Australia to Ban Children Under 16 from Social Media Platforms

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday a plan to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The move is aimed at addressing the “real harm” caused by these platforms, and tech giants will be held responsible for enforcing the age restrictions or face severe penalties.

“This one is for the mums and dads,” Albanese stated. “Social media is doing real harm to kids, and I’m calling time on it.” The proposal would be one of the world’s strictest measures targeting children’s use of social media, placing Australia among a small group of nations working to regulate online safety for younger users.

Under the new laws, social media companies would be required to prove they are taking “reasonable steps” to prevent underage access. “The onus won’t be on parents or young people,” Albanese clarified, emphasizing that companies must bear the responsibility. The legislation is set to be introduced to state and territory leaders this week and presented to parliament in late November. If passed, platforms will have one year to develop and implement mechanisms to enforce the ban.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, responded by saying it would “respect any age limitations the government wants to introduce.” However, Antigone Davis, Meta’s head of safety, urged the government to carefully consider how such restrictions are enacted, warning that poorly designed rules could end up being ineffective for teenagers and parents.

Snapchat, through a statement from industry group DIGI, expressed concern about the potential impact on young users. “Swimming has risks, but we don’t ban young people from the beach; we teach them to swim between the flags,” a DIGI spokeswoman said, cautioning against removing teenagers’ access to mental health support.

‘Falling Short’ on Safety

Social media platforms have faced growing criticism for issues such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and misinformation. “I get things popping up on my system that I don’t want to see. Let alone a vulnerable 14-year-old,” Albanese remarked, highlighting concerns over the effects of harmful imagery on young users, especially young women.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland joined Albanese in the announcement, pointing out that social media companies have consistently “fallen short” of their safety obligations. “Social media companies have been put on notice. They need to ensure their practices are made safer,” she said. Rowland warned that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) could face steep financial penalties for non-compliance. Although specific fines were not disclosed, she hinted that a US$600,000 (AUD$1 million) penalty would be insufficient for companies with billion-dollar revenues.

Analysts have raised concerns about the practicality of enforcing a strict age ban. University of Melbourne researcher Toby Murray noted that “present age verification methods are unreliable, too easy to circumvent, or risk user privacy.” The government plans to develop exemptions for platforms like YouTube that may be necessary for educational purposes or other legitimate reasons.

Global Context and Australia’s Tech Regulation Push

Australia’s plan follows similar moves by other countries to regulate children’s social media use. Spain recently banned social media access for those under 16, while Florida in the United States will bar children under 14 from creating accounts starting January. France has also passed laws requiring platforms to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for users under 15. China has stricter rules, limiting under-14s to 40 minutes of daily use on Douyin, its version of TikTok, while also controlling online gaming time.

Australia has intensified its efforts to hold tech companies accountable, introducing a “combating misinformation” bill earlier this year and moving to outlaw the non-consensual sharing of “deepfake” pornography. However, attempts to regulate content on Musk’s X platform have faced legal hurdles, with Musk previously referring to the government’s efforts as “fascist.”

Australia’s new social media regulations are part of a broader strategy to protect children online and hold tech companies accountable. Prime Minister Albanese stressed, “Winning this battle requires cooperation from everyone involved, from social media platforms to parents.” As the legislation advances, the spotlight will remain on how effectively these measures can be implemented and enforced.