Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday, November 7, that the government will legislate a new law to ban children under 16 from using social media. A sweeping move aimed at protecting minors online, this measures he described as a world-leading step set to become law by the end of next year.
According to Reuters, Australia is currently testing verification systems to enforce the age limit, making it one of the strictest sets of social media regulations worldwide.
“Social media poses risks to our children, and I’m going to put a stop to it,” Albanese said in a press conference, highlighting concerns about physical and mental health impacts on children from excessive social media use, particularly around body image issues affecting young girls and exposure to misogynistic content aimed at boys.
“For a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you’re going through life’s changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time” he said. “We’ve listened to the concerns, and now we’re taking action.”
While other countries have introduced regulations to curb minors’ social media use, Australia’s approach sets it apart. No other country has attempted to enforce age limits using biometric or government ID-based verification methods, both of which are being tested in Australia.
The government plans to introduce the legislation to Parliament this year, with the laws coming into effect 12 months after being ratified by lawmakers, Albanese said.
Notably, the proposed law would establish the highest age limit globally, without exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.
“The responsibility will lie with social media platforms to take reasonable measures to prevent underage access,” Albanese said, adding, “This burden shouldn’t be on parents or young people.”
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Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized the pioneering nature of the legislation, calling it a “world-leading measure.” Rowland noted that affected platforms would include Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), and likely Alphabet’s YouTube.
However, The Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI), which represents major platforms like Meta, TikTok, X, and Google, raised concerns that the ban could drive youth toward unregulated and potentially dangerous areas of the internet.
“Keeping young people safe online is a top priority,” DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose said in a statement. “But banning teens from digital platforms is a 20th-century solution to a 21st-century challenge.”
Instead, DIGI advocates for a balanced approach to create age-appropriate spaces, promote digital literacy, and protect youth from online harm.
As the discussion remain, Australia law proposal to ban social media for children will likely set the stage for future discussions worldwide on safeguarding minors in the digital age.
(Raidi/Agung)
