Australia to ban social media for children under 16 in landmark move

Australia will introduce legislation to ban children under 16 from using social media, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday, Reuters reported. The proposed ban is part of a world-first initiative to curb the negative impacts of social media on children’s physical and mental health.

According to the report, the ban will include strict age verification methods, such as biometric data or government IDs, to enforce the age limit—marking a global first. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) would be required to prove they are preventing access by minors.

There will be no exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. The legislation is expected to pass in 2024 and come into effect by 2025. The opposition Liberal Party has voiced support for the ban.

While some critics argue the ban could push teens to unregulated corners of the internet, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized that the measure would lead the world in protecting young people online. France and the US have made similar moves, though with more lenient approaches.