Australian Government Bans Social Media For Children Under 16

Australian government bans social media for children under 16

The Government of Australia has passed a world-first law banning children under 16 from using social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Designed to protect young people from online harm, the ban by the Senate has ignited a national debate. While advocates hail it as a vital step in addressing youth mental health issues, critics warn of privacy infringements and unintended consequences for vulnerable groups, including LGBTQIA+ youth, who rely on online communities for support.

The law addresses rising concerns about social media's impact, particularly among teenage girls.

Stressing the urgency of the regulation, Senator Sarah Henderson of the Liberal Party cited global trends linking social media use to mental health crises.

However, critic Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young dismissed the legislation, stating the year-long delay in enforcement undermined its credibility. She argued, "This is boomers trying to tell young people how the internet should work.” Meanwhile, some supporters raised alarms about the potential data misuse, remarking that the legislation prohibited platforms from demanding government-issued IDs for age verification but had no response on how age checks would be conducted without infringing on user privacy.

Though several countries have proposed social media age restrictions, Australia's absolute ban is among the most stringent.

The Australian Human Rights Commission voiced concerns about potential human rights infringements, warning of social exclusion for young people.

Criticism also came from tech companies stating that the law was rushed and impractical.

A spokesperson for Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, argued that the legislation ‘ignored evidence’ from child safety experts and imposed unrealistic demands on parents and teens.