Canberra
The Australian government has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland revealed the proposal on Thursday, aiming to protect children from the harmful effects of social media.
Albanese had previously expressed his intent to introduce legislation setting a minimum age for social media use before the end of 2024 but had not specified the age limit until now. Under the proposed law, social media platforms will be held accountable for enforcing the age restriction, and those that fail to comply could face penalties. However, children under 16 who manage to access social media and their parents or guardians will not be penalized.
“It’s something of enormous concern, and we know the social harm that can be caused,” Albanese said, emphasizing the importance of taking action to protect children. The legislation, which is set to take effect 12 months after passing through parliament, will be enforced by the government’s Safety Commissioner.
The government has also allocated funding in the 2024-25 federal budget for a trial of age-assurance technology to ensure the age limit is effectively implemented. With the support of the opposition Coalition, which also backs the 16-year age limit, the government is poised to pass the legislation with the necessary votes.
