Australia proposes 'world-leading' ban on social media for children under 16

7 November 2024, 10:46

The Australian government has announced plans to introduce a minimum age for children using social media.

Youths will need to be aged 16 or older to use online social networks, with platforms set to be held responsible and accountable to ensure compliance.

"Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said.

Legislation will be introduced in the nation's parliament during its final two weeks in session this year, with the parliamentary sitting fortnight beginning on November 18.

The age limit will take effect 12 months after the law is passed, Mr Albanese said.

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Platforms including X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook will need to use the year to work out how to exclude children younger than 16.

"I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online," Mr Albanese said.

Social media platforms will be penalised for breaching the age limit, but underage children and their parents will not.

"The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access. The onus won't be on parents or young people," Mr Albanese said.

Head of safety at Meta Antigone Davis, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, said its platforms would respect any age limitations the government wants to introduce.

"However, what's missing is a deeper discussion on how we implement protections, otherwise we risk making ourselves feel better like we have taken action, but teens and parents will not find themselves in a better place," Ms Davis said.

She added that stronger tools in app stores and operating systems for parents to control what apps their children can use would be a "simple and effective solution."

X did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

TikTok declined to comment.

More than 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter to Mr Albanese last month opposing the social media age limit.

They argued that it is "too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively."

Jackie Hallan, director at mental health service ReachOut, opposed the ban. She said 73 per cent of young people across Australia accessing mental health support did so through social media.

"We're uncomfortable with the ban. We think young people are likely to circumvent a ban and our concern is that it really drives the behaviour underground and then if things go wrong, young people are less likely to get support from parents and carers because they're worried about getting in trouble," Ms Hallan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Child psychologist Philip Tam said a minimum age of 12 or 13 would have been more enforceable.

"My real fear honestly is that the problem of social media will simply be driven underground," Mr Tam said.

However, Mr Albanese has said there would be exclusions and exemptions in circumstances, such as a need to continue access to educational services.

Parental consent would not entitle a child under 16 to access social media.