The Australian government said it would introduce world-first legislation to ban children under 16 from using social media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposed laws, which will be tabled in parliament next week, aim to mitigate the “harm” caused by social media to Australian children.
“This is for mums and dads… who, like me, are very concerned about the safety of our children online. I want Australian families to know that the government has your back,” he said.
While many details remain to be discussed, the government said the ban would not apply to young people who already use social media.
There will be no exemptions to the age limit for children with parental consent, and the government said social media platforms have a responsibility to show they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access.
Albanese also clarified that users will not face any penalties and it will be up to Australia’s online regulator – the Electronic Safety Commissioner – to enforce the law.
The bill will come into effect 12 months after passing and will be subject to review after implementation.
Some experts have criticized social media bans as ineffective, saying they only delay young people’s exposure to social media rather than teaching them how to navigate the complex online space.
Previous attempts to enforce the ban, including in the European Union, have largely failed or found enforcement challenging because tools exist to circumvent age verification requirements.
