Australia implemented a social media ban for children under 16, following a passionate debate that captured national attention, which could serve as a model for other countries in regulating Big Tech.
Tech giants like Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok, are required by law to prevent minors from logging in or risk paying fines of up to A$49.5 million (USD32 million). In January, a trial of enforcement methods will begin, with the ban set to be implemented in a year.
The Australian government’s Social Media Minimum Age bill makes the country a test example for other governments looking to regulate age limits on social media due to worries about its impact on young people’s mental health.
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Some countries like France and certain US states have implemented laws to limit access for minors without parental consent, while the ban in Australia is all-encompassing. A complete prohibition on under-14s in Florida is being contested in court based on freedom of speech arguments.
Passing the law on the final day of Australia’s parliamentary year is a political victory for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who faces an election in 2025 with declining popularity. Privacy advocates and certain child rights groups opposed the ban, however, it had the support of 77% of the population based on recent polls.
During a parliamentary investigation in 2024, parents of children who self-harmed because of cyberbullying shared their stories. The country’s largest newspaper publisher, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, supported the ban with a campaign named “Let Them Be Kids”.
A Great decision
Paarent organizations advocated for action after US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s 2023 remarks that social media was exacerbating youth mental health issues to the extent that it warranted a health advisory.
“Putting an age limit and giving control back to the parents, I think it’s a starting point,” said Australian anti-bullying advocate Ali Halkic, whose 17-year-old son Allem gave away his life in 2009 after social media bullying.
Enie Lam, a Sydney high school student who just celebrated her 16th birthday, mentioned that social media plays a role in body image issues and cyberbullying, and a complete prohibition could push youngsters towards hidden, riskier online platforms.
