PREVIEW

The Australian government announced plans for legislation that would ban children under 16 from using social media, aiming to protect young users from online harm. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the law’s focus on supporting parents worried about their children's safety online, stating, “The government has your back.” The proposed ban will apply even to children who have parental consent, with social media platforms required to prevent access for those under 16. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner will be tasked with enforcing the new rules, though no penalties will be placed directly on young users. If passed, the ban would come into effect 12 months later and be reviewed to assess its impact and effectiveness. While many agree social media can harm adolescents' mental health, some experts argue that a ban could merely delay exposure rather than teaching safe online practices. Past efforts by the European Union to restrict social media access faced challenges from tech firms and difficulties in enforcing age-verification. The Australian Child Rights Taskforce, joined by over 100 academics, criticized the ban, urging instead for better safety standards on platforms. Campaigns like the 36Months initiative, backed by over 125,000 petitioners, argue that children are not developmentally ready for social media before age 16. Albanese dismissed the idea of focusing solely on digital literacy, citing the power imbalance between vulnerable teens and powerful tech algorithms.
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