Australia's center-left government introduced a groundbreaking bill on Thursday aimed at banning social media use for children under 16, proposing fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for platforms that fail to comply with age-verification requirements.
The bill outlines a strict age cut-off with no exemptions for parental consen8t or pre-existing accounts, making it one of the toughest social media regulations in the world.
The government plans to trial an age-verification system, potentially involving biometrics or government-issued IDs, to enforce the ban. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as "landmark reform" and emphasized its goal of sending a clear message to social media companies about their responsibility to protect young users from harmful content.
While the opposition Liberal Party has expressed support for the bill, there are calls from independent lawmakers and the Green Party for more details on its implementation. The law would directly impact major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat. However, children would still have access to essential services like messaging, online gaming, and educational platforms, such as Google Classroom and mental health support platforms like Headspace.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland highlighted the risks social media poses to children's physical and mental health, pointing to the prevalence of harmful content, including depictions of drug abuse, self-harm, and body image issues. Under the proposed law, platforms—rather than parents or minors—would be responsible for ensuring age verification measures are in place, with robust privacy safeguards for user data.
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
