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Australians expressed a blend of anger and relief on Friday following the government’s announcement of a social media ban for children under 16. The initiative, which the government claims is groundbreaking, has drawn criticism from tech companies like TikTok, who warn that it may drive young users to “darker corners of the internet.”
The Australian government approved this ban late Thursday after a passionate national debate, establishing one of the strictest regulatory frameworks aimed at Big Tech globally. Under this law, major social media platforms, including those owned by Meta Platforms (which owns Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok, will be required to prevent minors from accessing their services or face hefty fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately NZD$54.5 million).
A trial period for enforcement methods is set to begin in January, with the actual ban expected to come into effect in a year.
“Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them,” stated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday. He emphasised that this legislation would enable parents to engage in more meaningful discussions about online safety with their children.
In earlier remarks regarding the ban, Albanese highlighted the dangers associated with excessive social media use, particularly its impact on children’s physical and mental health. He pointed out that girls are especially vulnerable to harmful body image portrayals, while boys may encounter misogynistic content.
Reactions in Sydney were mixed. “I think that’s a great idea because I found that the social media for kids (is) not really appropriate; sometimes they can look at something they shouldn’t,” a local resident expressed.
“I’m feeling very angry; I feel that this government has taken democracy and thrown it out the window. How could they possibly make up these rules and these laws and push it upon the people?” said one adult in frustration.
First of Its Kind
While countries like France and some U.S. states have enacted laws requiring parental consent for minors’ social media access, Australia’s ban is absolute. In Florida, a complete ban for users under 14 is currently facing legal challenges based on free speech concerns.
The Labor party led by Albanese secured vital backing from opposition conservatives for this bill, which was expedited through Parliament amid a flurry of legislative activity on the last day of sessions for the year. The government argued that ample notice was provided after an inquiry earlier this year revealed distressing testimonies from parents whose children had harmed themselves due to cyberbullying.
However, critics from social media companies and some legislators have claimed that the bill was rushed without adequate scrutiny. A TikTok spokesperson expressed disappointment over the government’s disregard for advice from mental health and youth advocacy experts who opposed the ban.
“We’re disappointed the Australian government has ignored the advice of the many mental health, online safety, and youth advocacy experts who have strongly opposed the ban,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Albanese defended moving forward with the legislation before completing age verification trials. “We’ve got your back is our message to Australian parents.” He acknowledged that while implementation might not be flawless—drawing a parallel to alcohol restrictions for those under 18—he believes it is necessary.
This new law may also complicate Australia’s relationship with its key ally, the United States. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), suggested in a recent post that it appears to be a “backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.”
The legislation also reflects ongoing tensions between Australia and predominantly U.S.-based tech giants. Australia was the first nation to compel social media platforms to compensate news outlets for content sharing and now aims to impose fines for failing to combat scams effectively.