Australia Plans Social Media Age Limit To Protect Children

A teenage girl uses her phone to access social media in Sydney, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia's states and territories have unanimously supported a national plan that would require most social media platforms to restrict access for children under the age of 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described this initiative as a world-first approach aimed at safeguarding the well-being of young Australians.

The decision was reached after months of deliberation among the government leaders, who considered various age limits ranging from 14 to 16 years. Despite some initial preferences for a lower age limit, all provinces have agreed to support the age of 16 to ensure consistency across the nation.

The proposed legislation, set to be introduced in Parliament within two weeks, would give platforms a year to implement mechanisms to enforce the age restriction. Privacy concerns related to age verification will also be addressed during this period.

All states and territories in Australia have agreed on the age limit of 16 for social media.

A national plan in Australia aims to restrict social media access for under-16s.

The proposed legislation will require platforms to enforce the age restriction within a year.

Privacy concerns related to age verification will be addressed during the implementation period.

The main opposition party in Australia supports the age limit, while the Greens party has raised concerns.

Meta suggests empowering parents with control tools as an alternative to age restrictions.

While the main opposition party has signaled its support for the age limit, the minor Greens party has raised concerns about potential limitations on young activists. Critics argue that tech-savvy teenagers may find ways to circumvent the restrictions, leading to underground social media activities.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has suggested that empowering parents with better control tools could be a more effective solution. However, the government views the age limit as a necessary step, akin to laws regulating the sale of alcohol to adults.

Despite some opposition from experts in technology and child welfare, the government remains committed to the legislation. Professors in information sciences and internet studies have raised questions about the potential impact of removing 14 and 15-year-olds from established social media networks.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized that children would still have access to online educational and health services under the proposed legislation. Strong privacy protections will be in place to safeguard children's data and ensure compliance with age verification requirements.

The legislation aims to strike a balance between protecting young people from online harms while enabling them to benefit from digital platforms responsibly.