The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has introduced a groundbreaking proposal to ban social media access for children under 16, as part of an expansive package of safety measures. The legislation, aimed at curbing the negative effects of social media on youth, is anticipated to become law late next year, marking one of the world’s most stringent online safety policies.
Age-Verification System and Strict Controls
Australia is testing a new age-verification system that includes biometric and government identification checks to prevent underage users from accessing popular social media platforms. This would make Australia the first country to enforce a social media age restriction using such advanced verification methods. Unlike other countries’ policies, Australia’s proposal does not provide exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. Once passed, platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, ByteDance’s TikTok, Elon Musk’s X, and potentially YouTube will be required to implement age barriers and demonstrate compliance.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland described the initiative as “world-leading,” emphasizing that the responsibility for age enforcement will fall on social media companies, not parents or young users.
Aiming to Protect Youth from Harmful Content
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the urgent need for intervention, citing mental and physical health risks linked to social media usage among young.