Australia has made history by becoming the first country to ban social media for children under 16. The landmark legislation, passed by the lower house on November 27th, followed by the senate a day later, gained overwhelming public support, with 77% of Australians backing the move.
The law targets platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, but might exempt WhatsApp and YouTube, which are often used for schoolwork.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the ban as a decisive step against the dangers of social media, calling it “a platform for peer pressure, anxiety, scammers, and online predators.” Opposition leader Peter Dutton echoed the sentiment, citing families’ deep concerns about harmful content children face online.
To enforce the ban, tech companies must prevent underage users from accessing their platforms or face hefty fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (€30 million). The bill includes provisions requiring platforms to offer alternatives to uploading ID documents for age verification, addressing privacy concerns. A trial run will begin in January, with full implementation a year later.
But not everyone is thrilled. Green Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young dismissed the bill as “boomers trying to tell young people how the internet should work.” Critics also slammed the law as overly censorious. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, expressed frustration, accusing lawmakers of rushing the legislation and ignoring evidence and industry efforts to create safer online spaces.
Australia’s bold move adds to global efforts to regulate social media use among minors. Countries like France, Norway, and South Korea have attempted similar measures, while China limits under-14s to 40 minutes daily on Douyin, its version of TikTok, and restricts gaming time for minors. Whether Australia’s pioneering ban sets a global precedent remains to be seen.
