Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced plans to ban children under 16 from social media, citing the harmful impact of platforms like Facebook and TikTok on young people.
“This one is for the mums and dads. Social media is doing real harm to kids and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese said.
The proposed age limit would be among the world’s strictest measures aimed at children, and tech giants would be responsible for enforcing it. They would face hefty fines if regulators find young users slipping through the cracks. “The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access,” Albanese explained.
*Key Measures:*
– _Age Limit_: Children under 16 would be banned from social media
– _Enforcement_: Tech platforms would be responsible for enforcing the age limit
– _Penalties_: Companies would face financial penalties for non-compliance
– _Exemptions_: Platforms like YouTube may be exempt for educational purposes
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland warned that social media companies have been “falling short” in their obligations and would need to ensure their practices are safer. Analysts have raised concerns about the technical feasibility of enforcing a strict age ban.
Other countries are also taking steps to regulate social media access for children. Spain has banned social media access for under-16s, while France requires platforms to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for those under 15. China has restricted access for minors since 2021, limiting online gaming time and social media use.
The move has sparked debate, with some arguing it could prevent teenagers from accessing mental health support. “Swimming has risks, but we don’t ban young people from the beach, we teach them to swim between the flags,” said a DIGI spokeswoman.
