Australia Plans Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the government will push forward with legislation aimed at banning social media access for children under the age of 16.

In a statement made at a press conference on Thursday, Albanese declared, “Social media is harming our kids, and I’m calling time on it.”

The government is touting the proposed legislation, set to be introduced in Parliament later this year, as a global first.

If passed, it will take effect within 12 months. Importantly, the law will not allow for exemptions based on parental consent.

“The responsibility will fall on social media platforms to prove they are taking adequate measures to prevent access by children,” Albanese explained.

“It will not be the burden of parents or the young users.”

The new regulations are expected to target major platforms, including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Bytedance’s TikTok, and Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).

According to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, YouTube, owned by Google, may also be included.

While the social media giants have not yet commented on the announcement,

The move signals Australia’s intent to take a hardline approach to protect children from potential harm linked to social media use.

This announcement places Australia at the forefront of global efforts to limit children’s exposure to social media.

Several other countries have already proposed similar initiatives. Last year, France suggested a ban on social media for users under 15, though parental consent would allow exceptions.

In the United States, regulations have long required parental consent for children under 13 to access data online, resulting in most platforms restricting access for that age group.

However, Australia’s policy represents one of the strictest to date.