Sydney, 10 December. Australia has implemented the world’s first ban on social media use for children under 16 years of age, effective from Wednesday. Under this ban, ten major platforms including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and X are required to prevent users below 16 from creating accounts.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed students across Australia via a video message, explaining that the government introduced this change to support children who have grown up facing algorithms, endless social media feeds, and related pressures.
He encouraged students to make the most of the upcoming school holidays instead of spending all their time scrolling on their phones.
Albanese said, “Start a new sport, learn a new musical instrument, or read the book that has been sitting on your shelf for some time. Most importantly, spend quality time with your friends and family face to face.”
According to Xinhua News Agency, the Australian federal parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 in November last year. The legislation requires certain social media platforms to take ‘reasonable steps’ to stop children under 16 from creating accounts.
Platforms that fail to comply may face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately 32.8 million US dollars). There are no penalties for children under 16 using age-restricted social media platforms or for their parents or guardians.
So far, ten social media platforms have been instructed to enforce the ban. These include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kik, and Reddit. Authorities may update the list as needed.
A recent poll shows broad public support for the social media ban, with 73 percent of Australians in favour. However, only 26 percent believe the measure will be effective, while 68 percent think children will find ways to bypass it.
The poll, released in early December by Australian-based global data, insights, and digital media company Pureprofile, found the highest support among teachers (84 percent) and parents (75 percent). Support drops to 62 percent among the 16 to 24 age group.
Despite agreeing to comply, most social media platforms oppose the measure, arguing that enforcement is difficult and could push young users into darker corners of the internet.
Global online forum Reddit stated on Tuesday that it will comply with the law but disagrees with its ‘scope, effectiveness, and privacy impact.’
Australia’s ban on social media use for teenagers has attracted international attention. Countries including Denmark, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia, and New Zealand are reportedly considering similar measures.
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My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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