Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media following the Senate's approval of groundbreaking legislation.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 law has been hailed by supporters as a vital step in protecting the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians.
And is the world’s first absolute age restriction on social media platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese introduced the bill last week, describing it as a necessary move to address a global issue.
“We want young Australians essentially to have a childhood… We want parents to have peace of mind.”
The bill passed the Senate by 34 votes to 19, after receiving overwhelming support in the House of Representatives earlier this week.
The law imposes stringent penalties on platforms that fail to comply, with fines of up to AU$50 million for systemic failures to prevent underage access.
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Facebook are expected to be included in the ban. However, gaming and messenger platforms, as well as account-free websites like YouTube, are exempt.
The ban will take effect one year after the bill becomes law, allowing platforms to develop technological solutions that respect users’ privacy. A trial of enforcement methods is scheduled for January 2025.
Digital Industry managing director Group Sunita Bose slammed the lack of clarity in the legislation.
“We have the bill but we don’t have guidance from the Australian government around what are the right methods that a whole host of services subject to this law will need to employ,” she told Reuters.
More than 77 per cent of Australians back the ban according to a recent YouGov poll, but critics argue it was rushed through Parliament without sufficient scrutiny.
Privacy advocates, child rights groups, and academics have expressed concerns about its effectiveness and potential unintended consequences.
ReachOut director Jackie Hallan warned that many young Australians rely on social media for mental health support, with 73 per cent accessing services through these platforms.
"This ban risks isolating children and removing positive aspects of social media, such as staying connected with friends," she said.
The law’s passage represents a win for Albanese’s centre-left government ahead of next year’s federal election, despite the prime minister’s low approval ratings. It positions Australia as a test case for a broader international debate on children’s access to social media.
Countries like France and several U.S. states have implemented laws requiring parental permission for children to access social media, but Australia’s ban is unique in its absolute restriction. A similar law in Florida, which prohibits social media use for under-14s, is currently facing legal challenges on free speech grounds.
