Australia's government is set to introduce a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. This proposal, spearheaded by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, aims to protect children from the harmful effects of online platforms.
Albanese, along with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, revealed their plan on Thursday to create legislation that would establish a minimum age of 16 for accessing social media.
This proposal follows the Prime Minister’s earlier intention to introduce such a law by the end of 2024, though the specific age limit had not been determined until now.
The government has decided that social media platforms themselves will be responsible for enforcing the age limit. Platforms that fail to block children under 16 will face penalties, while neither the children accessing social media nor their parents or guardians will face fines.
This initiative is a response to concerns over the significant harm social media is causing to young people. According to Albanese, the social harm is undeniable, and it is time to act.
Albanese stressed that the government's approach will not penalise children or their families but will instead focus on the companies that provide the platforms. If the legislation is passed, the ban will take effect one year later, and the government’s Safety Commissioner will oversee its enforcement.
The legislation is being hailed as "world-leading," and the government intends to ensure that it is implemented carefully, considering any possible unintended consequences.
To this end, they plan to trial age-assurance technologies before the law is fully rolled out. These technologies will help determine the best way to verify a user’s age online, a critical element of the policy.
In addition to this, Albanese has scheduled a meeting with state and territory leaders to discuss the proposal further. The government’s 2024-25 federal budget includes funding to trial various methods of age verification to help inform how the new age limit will be enforced.
The proposal has received support from the opposition Coalition, which also announced earlier this year that it would back a minimum age limit of 16. This bipartisan support ensures that the legislation will likely pass through both houses of parliament.
Australia’s new approach to social media regulation reflects growing global concerns about the impact of online platforms on children and adolescents. With this initiative, the government hopes to safeguard the mental health and well-being of young people, ensuring that they are not exposed to the negative effects of social media at an early age.
As more countries grapple with the challenges posed by social media to children’s safety and mental health, Australia’s legislative move could set an important precedent for other nations. The government's decision to act, backed by the support of both major political parties, signals a commitment to protecting children in the digital age.
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