The Australian government has disclosed plans to introduce legislation that will effectively ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the decision on Thursday, describing it as a pioneering step in child protection.
The new law is anticipated to take effect in late 2025.
As part of this effort, Australia is conducting trials on an innovative age-verification system designed to prevent children from creating accounts on social media platforms.
“Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese declared at a news conference, emphasizing the detrimental impact of excessive social media use on young people’s health and well-being.
He specifically highlighted the negative effects on girls from pervasive beauty ideals and warned about misogynistic content that could influence boys.
“If you’re a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you’re going through life’s changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time, and what we’re doing is listening and then acting,” he said, expressing concern for the pressures teenagers face in today’s digital world.
Though several other countries have introduced or considered regulations to limit children’s access to social media, Australia’s plan stands out for its comprehensive approach.
The proposed law would mark the highest age limit globally for restricting social media access, and unlike other countries, would not allow exceptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.
The legislation, scheduled to be introduced to Parliament this year, would give social media companies 12 months to comply after it is passed.
The opposition Liberal Party has signaled its support for the legislation, which would place the responsibility squarely on social media companies to demonstrate effective measures in restricting access for those under the specified age.
“The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access,” Albanese emphasized. “The onus won’t be on parents or young people.”
Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, echoed Albanese’s sentiments, calling the initiative “truly world-leading.”
The proposed restrictions are expected to impact major platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, operated by Meta, ByteDance’s TikTok, Elon Musk’s X, and Alphabet’s YouTube, Rowland confirmed.
In response, TikTok declined to comment, while Meta, Alphabet, and X did not immediately issue statements.
The Digital Industry Group, which represents companies including Meta, TikTok, X, and Google, voiced concerns that such a sweeping ban could have unintended consequences.
According to DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose, the restrictions might drive young people to more obscure, unregulated areas of the internet while also limiting their access to supportive online communities.
“Keeping young people safe online is a top priority … but the proposed ban for teenagers to access digital platforms is a 20th-century response to 21st-century challenges,” said Bose. “Rather than blocking access through bans, we need to take a balanced approach to create age-appropriate spaces, build digital literacy, and protect young people from online harm.”
