Children and teenagers in Australia will face a ban on using social media starting at the end of next year, following the passage of legislation by the Australian Parliament.
The new legislation specifically prohibits individuals under the age of 16 from creating accounts on major social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese contended that social media access was detrimental to the mental health of young people, stating that he was putting an end to it.
“I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles, and like me, they are worried sick about the safety of our kids online,” he said.
“I want parents to be able to say, ‘Sorry, mate, it’s against the law for me to let you do this’.”
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland recognised that while social media provides numerous advantages for young people, such as maintaining connections, it also poses significant risks.
“As a mother of two young daughters, I understand this personally,” she said.
“When it comes to protecting children from the harms caused by content or addictive behaviours as a result of social media, we are on your side.”
The bill was introduced to parliament last Thursday and was immediately sent for a Senate inquiry. Submissions for the inquiry closed the following Friday, with a three-hour public hearing which took place on Monday, and the committee’s report was presented on Tuesday.
The committee report highlighted that nearly all submissions expressed concerns about the “extremely short” consultation period.
During the public hearing, witnesses with experience in youth mental health expressed a range of opinions regarding the proposed ban on social media for young people.
Danielle Einstein, a clinical psychologist who advocates for raising the age limit for social media access, stated that she sees no mental health benefits associated with social media use among young individuals.
Meanwhile, Nicole Palfrey from the mental health organisation Headspace emphasised the need to weigh the potential harms of social media against its benefits, particularly in terms of connection and “help-seeking” online.
Palfrey highlighted the importance of these platforms for children living in remote or rural areas.
Lucy Thomas from anti-bullying organisation Project Rockit also commented, “When we hear from psychologists and parents, they are very much confronted with a pointy end; they only see the harms, and I think that’s incredibly valid.”
“But as people working with young people every day, we also see the benefits.
Thomas emphasised the importance of proceeding with caution, warning that failing to do so could result in the regression of young people’s rights and lead them to more isolated and unsupported environments.
When the law takes effect, social media companies could face fines of up to $50 million if they do not take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under the age of 16 from accessing their platforms. There are no penalties imposed on young people or parents who violate the rules.
Messaging apps, online gaming services, and platforms primarily designed to support the health and education of users will be exempt from the ban.
Additionally, sites like YouTube that do not require user logins for access will also not be included in the restrictions.