Blanket social media ban for children under 16 approved in Australia

After a heated debate, Australian authorities have now decided that children under 16 are not allowed to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

The new law banning access to social media by people under 16 is one of the strictest regulations targeting major technology platforms around the world, Reuters reports. The law is scheduled to come into force one year after a trial period starting in January. The law requires companies such as Meta and TikTok to block minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

The Minimum Age on Social Media Act positions Australia as a testing ground for stricter age restrictions on social media. Governments – and, frankly, individuals – around the world are concerned about the impact of these platforms on young people’s mental health. While some jurisdictions, such as France and some US states, require parental consent for minors to access social media, Australian law enforces a total ban for those under 16 years of age. The legislation, passed after extensive parliamentary debate, is seen as a political victory for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government. According to polls, public support for this solution is high – 77% of Australians support the ban.

Of course, the law has drawn criticism from privacy advocates, tech companies and youth organizations. Concerns include potential privacy risks, limited access to support networks for vulnerable young people and wider implications for digital rights.

Tech giants including Meta have expressed reservations, citing the rushed legislative process and potential burden on both users and platforms. Critics say the new law could lead to increased data collection for age verification purposes, raising fears of government surveillance. To address these concerns, the last-minute amendment requires platforms to offer alternatives to submitting ID documents for verification.

Supporters of this bill point to growing concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people, repeated warnings from figures like US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, whom we talked about not too long ago. Parenting advocacy groups argue that the ban is a necessary first step to protect children from online harm, including bullying.

But some young people and their supporters warn that the ban could backfire, pushing teenagers to less regulated and potentially harmful corners of the internet.

Despite mixed reactions, the legislation marks a significant escalation in Australia’s regulatory stance towards Big Tech, following previous measures such as imposing licensing fees for news content and imposing fines for failing to combat online fraud. Time will tell how the law will be implemented and what its wider effects will be.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.