Australia unveils groundbreaking bill to restrict social media access for kids under 16

Australia has introduced a landmark bill in parliament aimed at prohibiting children under 16 from using social media platforms, marking one of the most stringent measures globally to regulate online access for minors.

The proposed legislation includes fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately $32 million or ₹270 crore) for social media platforms that fail to comply with the rules.

To enforce the ban, Australia plans to trial an advanced age-verification system that could involve biometrics or government-issued identification. Unlike policies in other countries, this legislation would allow no exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as a “landmark reform,” emphasizing its intent to hold social media platforms accountable. “We know some kids may try to circumvent the system, but this sends a strong message to these companies to clean up their act,” he stated.

While the opposition Liberal Party has expressed support for the bill, independent MPs and the Green Party have sought additional details. The legislation would affect major platforms such as Instagram, Facebook (Meta), TikTok (Bytedance), Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter).

Despite the restrictions, children would still have access to messaging apps, online gaming, and services like Google Classroom, YouTube, and mental health support platforms such as Headspace.

The Albanese government has raised concerns about the physical and mental health risks posed by excessive social media use, particularly for young users. Officials highlighted the impact of harmful content, including body image issues affecting girls and misogynistic content targeting boys.

"Nearly two-thirds of Australian teenagers aged 14 to 17 have encountered harmful content online, including depictions of drug abuse, suicide, or self-harm," said Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.

The proposed law places the duty on social media companies to ensure compliance with age-verification protocols. Platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to enforce these protections, rather than leaving the responsibility to parents or children.

To address privacy concerns, the legislation mandates that any data collected during the verification process must be destroyed to safeguard user privacy.

"Social media has a social responsibility," Rowland added. "We are implementing significant changes to ensure platforms are held accountable for user safety."

Australia’s policy sets a global precedent, surpassing measures adopted by other nations. France has proposed banning social media for users under 15 with parental consent as an exception, while U.S. laws require parental consent for accessing the data of children under 13.