Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans on Thursday to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, citing the significant harm they pose to young users. The proposed laws would place the responsibility on tech companies to enforce the ban, with substantial fines for non-compliance.
“This one is for the mums and dads. Social media is doing real harm to kids and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese said. The new regulations, described as “world-leading,” would shift the enforcement burden onto social media companies, not parents. Meta expressed its intention to respect age restrictions but highlighted the importance of carefully drafted laws. Industry body DIGI warned the ban could prevent teens from accessing mental health resources.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stressed that social media companies have “fallen short” in safety obligations and promised financial penalties for non-compliance, with potential fines exceeding US$600,000. Analysts raised concerns about the feasibility of enforcing strict age verification. Exemptions may be considered for platforms used for educational purposes.
Australia’s push to regulate big tech has seen varied success, including a bill targeting misinformation and efforts to restrict non-consensual deepfake content. Similar age restriction laws have been enacted in Spain, France, and parts of the US, but challenges remain in determining reliable age verification methods.
