Australia is set to make waves with a new legislation aimed at banning social media access for children under the age of 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a bold announcement on 7 November 2024, stated, “Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it.” This proactive approach is being touted as a world-leading initiative.
Legislative Details
The government plans to introduce the formal legislation in Parliament within the week commencing 18 November 2024, and it will be enacted 12 months after being ratified. Notably, there will be no exemptions for users with parental consent, placing the responsibility squarely on social media companies.
Who Will Be Affected?
- Major platforms like Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Facebook
- TikTok
- Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter)
- Alphabet’s YouTube
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland indicated that these services will be classified as “age-restricted,” and the government will continuously review platforms to determine compliance.
Industry Responses
While some leaders in the tech industry, including Meta’s Regional Policy Director for Australia, Mia Garlick, support the intent behind the legislation, they question its feasibility. According to Garlick, “the technology isn’t quite there yet in terms of having a perfect solution.” She suggested that age restrictions might be more effectively managed by app store providers like Google and Apple.
Moving Forward
Despite concerns raised by tech firms, Albanese remains confident that the proposed laws will send a crucial signal regarding the importance of safeguarding children online. Drawing a parallel to alcohol laws, he quipped, “Just because there’ll be examples of breaches doesn’t mean we should throw up our hands and give up.”
With this legislation, Australia is making a significant push towards enhancing online safety for younger users, albeit amidst challenges in implementation and compliance.