Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media.
On Thursday, Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced their plan to set a legal minimum age of 16 for social media access. The Prime Minister had previously signaled an intention to introduce such a bill by the end of 2024 but had not specified an exact age limit until now.
Albanese emphasized the dangers posed by social media to young people, stating, “Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it. It’s something of enormous concern, and we know the social harm that can be caused, and we know the consequences here.”
Under the proposal, online platforms that fail to restrict access to users under 16 would face penalties, while children who access social media or their parents/guardians will not be penalized. The new law would come into effect 12 months after passing in parliament, with enforcement managed by the government’s Safety Commissioner.
“This is world-leading legislation, and we want to make sure we’ve got it right,” Albanese said, acknowledging potential exclusions or exemptions to avoid unintended consequences.
The federal government also plans to fund trials of age-verification technology, with the results helping shape the implementation of the new age limit.
Albanese plans to discuss the proposal with state and territory leaders on Friday. The 2024-25 federal budget includes funding for the trial of age-assurance technology, and the opposition Coalition has already expressed its support for the 16-year-old age limit. With the Coalition’s backing, Albanese’s Labor Party is expected to have enough votes to pass the legislation through both houses of parliament.
Peoplesmind
