Australia Proposes Strict Social Media Ban for Under-16s

On Thursday, Australia’s federal government introduced a proposed law in Parliament to ban social media usage for children under 16 years old. Social media platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 32 million), according to a Reuters report.

The proposed legislation includes plans for stringent age verification measures, such as biometric data or official identification, making it one of the toughest global initiatives in regulating social media access by age. Parental consent would also be required, and the restrictions would apply to both new and existing accounts.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the proposal a “historic reform,” adding, “We know some children will try to bypass the rules, but we want to send a clear message to social media companies that they must act responsibly.”

While the Liberal opposition supports the bill, independent members and the Green Party have sought further clarification on its provisions. If enacted, the law would affect platforms like Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok, Elon Musk’s X, and Snapchat.

However, exemptions will apply for health, education, and mental health services. Messaging apps, online gaming platforms, and tools like Headspace, Google Classroom, and YouTube will remain accessible.

Australia’s Labor government argues that excessive social media use poses risks to children’s physical and mental health, particularly by promoting negative body image among girls and exposing boys to harmful content.

Several countries are introducing laws to limit children’s access to social media. Australia’s proposal is among the strictest globally. Last year, France proposed banning social media for children under 15 without parental consent. In the United States, technology companies have long been required to obtain parental consent before collecting data from children under 13.