- Australia plans social media ban for under-16s
- The legislation will not apply to children already using social media
- Social media platforms will be responsible for ensuring under-16s don’t access the platforms
- Proposed law will be tabled in parliament next week
Australia plans social media ban for under-16s
Australia’s government is set to introduce new legislation banning children under 16 from accessing social media, a move aimed at addressing the mental health risks posed by online platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the proposed law, which will be tabled in parliament next week, is designed to reduce the “harm” caused to Australian children by social media.
The legislation will not apply to children already using social media, and there will be no exceptions for those with parental consent. Social media platforms will be held responsible for ensuring they do not allow under-16s to access their services, with enforcement managed by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. The law is expected to come into force a year after passage and will be reviewed once in place.
While experts generally agree on the mental health risks of social media for young people, there is debate over the effectiveness of an outright ban. Critics argue that such bans may simply delay exposure to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, rather than teaching children how to navigate the online world safely. Previous similar attempts, including those by the EU, have faced challenges or backlash from tech companies, raising questions about how enforceable such a ban would be.