Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced on Thursday the government’s intention to pass a law prohibiting social media use for individuals under 16 years old, a groundbreaking policy according to the government.
Australia is experimenting with an age-verification mechanism to prevent minors from reaching social media platforms. This initiative is tied to a potential prohibition that might be implemented by the conclusion of the upcoming year.
Albanese declared during a press briefing that he is putting a stop to the harmful effects of social media on our children.
Albanese pointed out the dangers posed to children’s physical and mental well-being by the overuse of social media, emphasizing the threats girls face due to negative body image portrayals and the misogynistic content targeted at boys.
It can be incredibly challenging for a teenager who is 14 years old to navigate such experiences while undergoing crucial life changes and growth. Our approach involves attentive listening followed by decisive actions,” he explained.
He mentioned that a bill would be presented in parliament this year and would become enforceable one year after receiving approval from legislators.
Support has been voiced by the Liberal Party in opposition of the ban.
Children with parental consent or existing accounts will not be eligible for any exemptions.
Albanese emphasized that social media platforms must prove their commitment to implementing effective measures to restrict access, shifting the responsibility away from parents and young individuals.
According to Michelle Rowland, the Minister of Communications, the platforms that will be affected include Instagram and Facebook from Meta Platforms, TikTok from Bytedance, and X from Elon Musk. She also mentioned that YouTube from Alphabet might be included in the legislation as well.
Meta, Alphabet, and X did not provide any comments in response to the requests, whereas TikTok chose to withhold its comment.
Numerous nations have pledged to restrict children’s access to social media through laws, with Australia leading the way with one of the strictest policies.
A prohibition on social media for individuals under 15 was suggested by France last year, although users could circumvent the restriction by obtaining consent from their parents.
Technology companies in the United States have long been mandated to obtain parental consent in order to access the information of children below 13 years of age. As a result, the majority of social media platforms have prohibited individuals under this age from using their services.
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