Australia to Introduce World-Leading Ban on Social Media for Children Under 16

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the government would legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, a policy the government says is world-leading.

“Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese told a news conference.

Legislation will be introduced into parliament this year, with the laws coming into effect 12 months after it is ratified by lawmakers, he added.

There will be no exemptions for users who have parental consent.

Why the Ban?

“The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access,” Albanese said. “The onus won’t be on parents or young people.”

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Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said platforms impacted would include Meta Platforms’ META.O Instagram and Facebook, as well as Bytedance’s TikTok and Elon Musk’s X. Alphabet’s GOOGL.O YouTube would likely also fall within the scope of the legislation, she added.

Global Efforts to Curb Social Media Use by Children

A number of countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, though Australia’s policy is one of the most stringent.

France last year proposed a ban on social media for those under 15, though users were able to avoid the ban with parental consent.

The United States has for decades required technology companies to seek parental consent to access the data of children under 13, leading to most social media platforms banned those under that age from accessing their services.

Conclusion

The Australian government’s decision to introduce a ban on social media for children under 16 is a significant step towards protecting young people’s well-being and safety online. The policy is a welcome development in the global effort to curb the negative impacts of social media on children’s mental and physical health.

FAQs

* When will the ban come into effect?
+ The ban will come into effect 12 months after the legislation is ratified by lawmakers.
* Which social media platforms will be affected?
+ The ban will apply to Meta Platforms’ META.O Instagram and Facebook, as well as Bytedance’s TikTok and Elon Musk’s X. Alphabet’s GOOGL.O YouTube may also be impacted.
* Will there be any exemptions for users who have parental consent?
+ No, there will be no exemptions for users who have parental consent.