Opinion! Why Australia plans a social media ban for below 16

Australia Social Media Ban

In an unprecedented step, the Australian government has revealed intentions to implement a law prohibiting children below 16 years old from accessing social media platforms.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday that his government plans to introduce legislation this month to prohibit social media for those under 16 years old.

Australia is evaluating a novel age-verification system designed to stop minors from using social media platforms. This initiative is part of a wider range of actions, which represent some of the most stringent regulations on social media use put into place by any nation to date.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who led the initiative to prohibit social media for those under 16, highlighted the government’s dedication to safeguarding children on the Internet. During a press conference, he expressed, “This one is dedicated to the parents… They, similar to me, are extremely anxious about the security of our children on the internet. I want families in Australia to understand that the government supports you.”

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What does the new legislation say?

The upcoming legislation, anticipated to be presented later this year, directly addresses the growing damage that social media platforms are thought to cause to children and adolescents. “Social media is negatively impacting our children, and I’m putting a stop to it,” Albanese stated, emphasizing the immediate necessity for intervention.

With the suggested social media prohibition for those under 16, social media companies will need to implement suitable measures to restrict access for users below that age. Significantly, there will be no exceptions for minors with parental approval. The responsibility will primarily rest with social media companies, rather than on parents or young users.