Australia has just passed a law that bans social media for children under 16, less than a week after the contentious bill was introduced to parliament.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been crystal clear about the motivation, stating that social media can be a “weapon for bullies” and a “platform for peer pressure.” The law now requires tech giants like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to implement “reasonable steps” to prevent underage access.
The legislation goes beyond mere suggestions by imposing substantial financial consequences. Tech companies that fail to prevent under-16 users from accessing their platforms could face fines up to 50 million Australian dollars.
A recent YouGov survey, conducted with 1,515 participants and a margin of error of 3.2%, revealed overwhelming public support, with 77% of Australians backing the ban. This suggests that parents are deeply concerned about their children’s online safety and mental health, viewing social media as a potential threat to psychological well-being and developmental stability.
The legislation hasn’t been without pushback. Some politicians argue the ban might inadvertently isolate young people rather than protect them. One senator warned that the legislation could create more problems than it solves, potentially driving underground communication and reducing transparency.
Tech companies have also criticized the “rushed” process, with Meta and TikTok expressing considerable implementation concerns. They argue that the law lacks clear guidelines and could place an unreasonable burden on platforms trying to comply with complex age verification requirements.
Some of the key takeaways include:
- No government IDs are required for age verification
- Parents and children won’t face penalties
- Tech companies bear full responsibility
- Educational platforms are exempt
- Implementation timeline stretches across 12 months, giving companies time to adapt
Though similar proposals are being explored in places like Norway and Florida, Australia is the first to implement such comprehensive legislation with real financial consequences. Whether this will go down as an overreach of government power or a watershed moment in how the world manage’s children’s online experiences remains to be seen.
