Australian Government to Introduce Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday that the Australian government will introduce legislation to ban social media access for children under 16 to address growing concerns about the effects of social media on young people’s mental and physical health.

Australia is currently trialling an age-verification system aimed at preventing children from accessing social media, as part of a suite of measures that will impose some of the world’s strictest regulations.

“Social media is harming our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese stated at a news conference, noting the physical and mental health risks associated with excessive social media use, particularly the negative impacts on girls’ body image and exposure to misogynistic content for boys.

“If you’re a 14-year-old going through life’s changes, it can be a difficult time, and we’re committed to listening and taking action,” he said.

While several countries have committed to limiting social media for children, Australia’s measures are among the most stringent. No other country has trialled the use of age-verification methods, such as biometrics or government ID, to enforce age restrictions on social media.

Australia’s proposals include setting the highest age limit for social media access globally, with no exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.

The legislation will be introduced to Parliament this year and, if ratified, will take effect 12 months after approval. The opposition Liberal Party has indicated support for the ban.

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“There will be no exemptions for children with parental consent or those who already have accounts,” Albanese added.

 “Social media platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to enforce access restrictions—this responsibility will not fall on parents or young people.”

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said this policy would be “truly world-leading” and noted that it would cover platforms like Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok, Elon Musk’s X, and likely Alphabet’s YouTube.

The Digital Industry Group (DIGI), which represents companies like Meta, TikTok, X, and Alphabet’s Google, warned that the ban could drive young users towards less-regulated areas of the internet, cutting off access to support networks.

“Keeping young people safe online is essential…but banning teenagers from digital platforms is a 20th-century response to 21st-century challenges,” said DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose.

“Instead, we need a balanced approach, focusing on age-appropriate spaces, digital literacy, and protection from online harm.”

In 2022, France proposed a similar ban for those under 15, allowing exceptions with parental consent. The United States has long required technology companies to obtain parental consent to access data for children under 13, resulting in many platforms banning users below this age.