Photo source: FMT
Australia’s government is set to introduce an unprecedented law that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, as announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday.
The move is being described as a “world-leading” effort, with the proposed legislation expected to be presented to Parliament during its final two weeks of sessions this year, starting November 18, and could take effect by late 2025.
As part of this initiative, Australia is implementing an age-verification system designed to prevent minors from accessing social media. The measures included in this legislation are among the strictest seen globally.
“Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it,” stated Albanese.
The Prime Minister emphasised the negative impacts that excessive social media usage can have on children’s physical and mental health. He particularly pointed out the dangers posed to girls through harmful body image portrayals and the misogynistic content that can affect boys.
“If you’re a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you’re going through life’s changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time and what we’re doing is listening and then acting,” he added.
Several nations have enacted laws to reduce children’s social media usage, but Australia’s approach stands out for its strictness. No other jurisdiction has attempted to enforce age restrictions through methods such as biometric data or government-issued identification—two techniques currently being trialled in Australia.
The proposed legislation will also not allow any exceptions for parental consent or for existing accounts, setting a new precedent with the highest minimum age limit established by any country to date.