Australia has enacted a comprehensive ban on social media for children under the age of 16, marking one of the most extensive efforts globally to protect young people from online dangers. However, details regarding enforcement and the specific platforms affected remain unclear.
The legislation passed through the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday and received bipartisan support in the Senate on Thursday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the law as a pioneering initiative aimed at safeguarding children's mental health from the negative impacts of social media, including online bullying and hate.
Under the new law, social media platforms are required to take "reasonable steps" to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. Companies could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $32 million) for significant failures to enforce age restrictions. Neither underage users nor their parents will face penalties for violations, and the Prime Minister acknowledged that some children may find ways to bypass restrictions.
Additionally, the law introduces a category of "age-restricted social media platforms," which will only be accessible to individuals aged 16 and older. However, the method of verifying age remains a complex issue.
The legislation does not mandate users to provide government identification for age verification, a provision included to address privacy concerns raised by the conservative opposition. It is also yet to be determined which specific platforms will be included in the ban. While the Prime Minister indicated that platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and X will be affected, YouTube and messaging services such as WhatsApp are anticipated to be exempt.
Other countries have implemented similar measures, with France passing a law that requires parental consent for social media users under 15, and Florida banning users under 14 while requiring consent for those aged 14 and 15, though that law may face constitutional scrutiny.
Opinions on the ban vary among young Australians. Leo Puglisi, a 17-year-old who runs a youth-focused news site, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of a blanket ban, arguing that it would not eliminate harmful content but merely delay access to social media until the age of 16.
Conversely, Dany Elachi, a parent of five, believes the law will help shift societal norms regarding children's social media use, alleviating pressure on parents who fear their children may feel isolated.
Critics of the bill, including independent lawmaker Kylea Tink, labeled it a "blunt instrument" that fails to hold social media companies accountable for the safety of their platforms. Stephen Bates of the Australian Greens party shared his childhood experience of circumventing parental controls, highlighting the challenges in enforcing such regulations.
With the law now in effect, social media companies have 12 months to comply with its requirements. The responsibility for implementing the law will fall to Julie Inman Grant, Australia's eSafety Commissioner, who expressed confidence that technology companies would find effective methods for age verification.
Inman Grant noted that advancements in technology aimed at verifying age for access to adult content have been progressing, and she is optimistic that tech giants will be able to adapt to the new regulations.