Australia passes landmark law banning social media for children under 16

Australia has passed a groundbreaking law banning social media access for children under the age of 16, positioning itself as the first country to implement such a stringent measure.

The legislation, approved by the Senate on November 28, follows intense public debate and an expedited parliamentary process in which the bill was introduced, discussed, and passed within a week, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Under the new law, technology companies are required to take "reasonable steps" to prevent underage users from accessing social media platforms, with penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $32 million) for non-compliance. This marks the toughest approach to date on the issue of children's social media use, surpassing efforts by other countries that have imposed restrictions without holding companies accountable for violations. The law is expected to apply to major platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and X, though the list may expand in the future.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the law addresses the dangers posed by social media to young people, including bullying, peer pressure, anxiety, scams, and online predators. Defending the age limit of 16, Albanese stated that children at this age are better equipped to recognize online threats.

The bill received support from most of the Liberal Party, with Liberal Senator Maria Kovacic calling it a "pivotal moment" for Australia. However, it faced strong opposition from some independents and smaller parties, including Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who criticized the law as a misguided attempt to appease parents and accused the government of neglecting the broader issue of social media safety.

The government has been criticized for the swift passage of the bill. Submissions to a Senate committee inquiry were open for just 24 hours, followed by a three-hour hearing and a quick report, raising concerns about the lack of adequate time for thorough scrutiny. Despite these concerns, the committee recommended passing the bill with certain amendments, such as prohibiting the use of government documents to verify users' ages.

Tech companies have expressed concerns about the law, citing privacy issues and the potential for children to bypass the ban. For example, Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, argued that device-level age verification is the best solution. X, owned by Elon Musk, voiced concerns about the impact on free speech, while Meta (Facebook and Instagram) urged the government to await the results of age assurance trials expected next year. Meta also criticized the exclusion of platforms like YouTube and online gaming from the ban, suggesting it undermines the law's effectiveness.

Despite these objections, public opinion appears to favor the law. A recent YouGov poll found that 77 per cent of Australians support the under-16 social media ban. With the law now in effect, further consultations will take place to determine the implementation date. Once activated, any children under 16 with social media accounts will have them deactivated. While parents and children won’t face penalties, companies will be required to demonstrate they have made reasonable efforts to prevent underage access.

By Vafa Guliyeva