Sydney, Australia: In a sweeping move to protect young users online, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to introduce new laws banning children under the age of 16 from accessing social media. This proposed legislation, which will make social media companies accountable for verifying users’ ages, aims to address the growing concerns about the impact of social media on young Australians.
“This one is for the mums and dads. Social media is doing real harm to kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese told reporters. The announcement builds on earlier discussions around a social media age limit, but this is the first time a firm age of 16 has been established as the threshold.
Under the proposed laws, the onus of enforcing the age limit will fall on tech companies rather than on parents or young people themselves, with Albanese clarifying that “there will be no penalties for users.” This places a significant burden on social media platforms to ensure that users meet the age requirement, relieving parents who, according to Albanese, are “worried sick about the safety of their kids online.”
The proposal has garnered broad bipartisan support and will be reviewed by state and territory leaders before it is formally introduced to parliament in late November. If passed, Australia’s legislation would mark one of the strictest social media age restrictions globally, as governments worldwide grapple with the challenges of online safety for young people.
Albanese’s initiative highlights a global trend as countries increasingly pressure tech giants to enhance age verification and implement safeguards to protect younger audiences. While the policy has sparked debate over its feasibility and potential impacts, supporters argue that it’s a critical step towards a safer digital space for future generations.
