Australia Moves to Ban Social Media Access for Under-16s

Australian lawmakers are taking significant steps toward banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, with companies facing multimillion-dollar fines if they fail to comply. The landmark legislation passed the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday and is now set for Senate debate.

The new rules would require major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young teenagers from creating accounts. Social media companies could face fines as high as AU$50 million (US$32.5 million) for non-compliance. However, these proposed laws have been criticized by some companies as “vague,” “problematic,” and “rushed.”

Centre-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is gearing up for an election early next year, has strongly supported the ban, rallying Australian parents to back the initiative. Leading up to the vote, Albanese described social media as a platform for peer pressure, anxiety, scams, and, most alarmingly, online predators. He emphasized the importance of getting young Australians off their phones and onto physical activities like sports.

While the ban could be one of the strictest globally, concerns remain about how it will be enforced. The current legislation provides little detail on enforcement measures, and it could take at least 12 months for regulators to finalize the rules before the ban takes effect. Experts are skeptical about the ban’s practical implementation, noting that many age restrictions can be easily bypassed.

The legislation has also been amended to prevent social media platforms from requiring new users to provide government-issued IDs to verify their age. Some companies, including WhatsApp and YouTube, may be granted exemptions, given their use for schoolwork or recreational purposes. LinkedIn, on the other hand, has argued that its platform is too “boring” for minors, suggesting it should be exempt from the ban.