In a world-first move, the Australian Parliament passed a law on Friday banning children under the age of 16 from using social media.
The new legislation will hold platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram accountable, with fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million) for failing to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts.
The Senate passed the bill on Thursday with a vote of 34 to 19, after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved it on Wednesday by 102 votes to 13. Following the Senate’s approval of opposition amendments, the bill became law on Friday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the law addresses parental concerns about online harms to children. “Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them,” Albanese stated to reporters.
The legislation grants platforms a one-year period to prepare for its implementation before penalties are enforced.
Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook and Instagram, expressed concerns, calling the legislation “rushed.” Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI), an advocacy group for platforms, also raised concerns about the law’s practicality. Sunita Bose, DIGI’s managing director, stated that the rapid passage of the law left many questions unanswered, leaving both the community and platforms unclear about the specifics of the legislation (Associated Press).
The new law includes amendments that strengthen privacy protections. Social media platforms will no longer be allowed to force users to provide government-issued identity documents, such as passports or driver’s licenses, or require digital identification through government systems.
While many support the ban, including major political parties, child welfare and mental health advocates have expressed concerns about unintended consequences. Sen. David Shoebridge of the minority Greens party warned that mental health experts believe the ban could isolate vulnerable children, particularly those from regional communities or the LGBTQI community, who use social media to find support.
Exemptions to the ban will apply to platforms providing health and education services, such as YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, and Google Classroom.
Sen. Maria Kovacic, from the opposition, defended the bill, saying it was “not radical but necessary.” She emphasized that the bill requires social media companies to take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from accessing their platforms, a responsibility the companies have long neglected in favor of profit.
Online safety campaigners celebrated the bill’s passage. Sonya Ryan, whose 15-year-old daughter Carly was murdered by a pedophile posing as a teenager online, described the Senate vote as a “monumental moment in protecting our children from horrendous harms online.”
Wayne Holdsworth, whose son Mac died by suicide after falling victim to an online sextortion scam, expressed pride in the law’s passage, which he had long advocated for.
However, critics argue that the legislation does not adequately consider the positive aspects of social media for young people’s mental health and connection. Christopher Stone, executive director of Suicide Prevention Australia, warned that the legislation was rushed and lacked evidence-based policies.
Social media platforms, including Meta and Snapchat, have expressed concerns that the law is unworkable and have urged the government to delay implementation until at least June 2025, when an evaluation of age-assurance technologies is expected. Despite these concerns, the platforms have pledged to cooperate with the eSafety Commissioner, the government regulator, during the 12-month implementation period.
The Australian government faces criticism that it rushed the legislation through Parliament in an attempt to win voter support ahead of the May 2025 general election. Critics argue that the ban could cause more harm than good, such as isolating children, depriving them of the positive aspects of social media, and driving them to less safe corners of the internet, including the dark web.
The new law marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to online safety, but its implementation remains to be seen.
(Source: Associated Press)