Australia is on the verge of implementing a groundbreaking ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. On Wednesday, the Australian Parliament’s lower house passed a bill with a significant majority, moving the country closer to some of the toughest social media regulations in the world.
The House of Representatives approved the bill 102 votes to 13 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government secured bipartisan support. The legislation aims to mitigate the risks excessive social media use poses to the physical and mental health of children, a concern Albanese has highlighted in seeking parental backing.
Under the proposed law, social media platforms will be required to implement reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place. Companies could face fines up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million) for systemic breaches. Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce the ban.
While the Senate is expected to debate the bill later on Wednesday, the government is eager to see it passed before the parliamentary year concludes on Thursday. A Senate committee recently backed the bill but stipulated that social media platforms should not force users to submit personal data such as passports or other digital identification to prove their age. The committee emphasized the need for the government to “meaningfully engage” with youth when framing the law.
“Youth must be at the center of the conversation as an age restriction is implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection,” said Senator Karen Grogan, committee chair.
Tech giants Google and Meta have urged the government to delay the ban until the age-verification trial concludes in mid-2025. TikTok called for more consultation on the bill, while X (formerly Twitter) expressed concerns that the proposed law might infringe on children’s human rights.
The ban has sparked vigorous debate across Australia. Youth advocates argue it robs children of a voice and could sever vital social and family connections. Teenage students have voiced concerns that a ban is not the solution to issues like cyberbullying and excessive screen time.
“I understand that using social media a lot is not a good thing and I’m working on it,” said 16-year-old Sydney high school student Enie Lam. “But a ban is not going to work.”
Meanwhile, parent groups and many Australians express strong support for the ban. A YouGov survey released this week showed that 77 percent of Australians back the ban, up from 61 percent in August. The Australian Parents Council, an advocacy group, believes that big tech companies need to take responsibility.
“Our members feel that this is one of the biggest issues impacting on themselves and their families at the moment,” said Jenny Branch-Allen, president of the Australian Parents Council. “Let’s try and reduce the incidents we’re hearing involved with social media and young people in Australia.”
The ban was first announced during an emotionally charged parliamentary inquiry into social media, which included testimony from parents of children who had self-harmed due to cyberbullying. Australian media outlets, from the publicly owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation to News Corp, have also expressed support for the ban, with campaigns urging for stricter regulations under banners like “Let Them Be Kids.”
As Australia moves closer to enacting this pioneering legislation, the world watches to see how these stringent measures will impact the nation’s youth and the global conversation around social media regulation.
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Australia nears social media ban for children after heated debate
cgtn.com
