Australia Imposes World’s First Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

Sydney (The Uttam Hindu): Australia has officially implemented the world’s first social media ban for children below 16 years of age, starting Wednesday. Under this rule, major platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and X along with six others must prevent minors from creating accounts. In a video message to students across the country, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government introduced this change to protect children who are growing up under the pressure of algorithms, endless social media feeds, and online influence.

He advised students to enjoy their upcoming school holidays instead of spending all their time scrolling on phones. Albanese encouraged them to try a new sport, learn a musical instrument, read a book waiting on their shelf, and most importantly, spend quality time face-to-face with friends and family.

According to the agency, the Australian Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 in November last year. The law requires selected platforms to take “reasonable steps” to stop children under 16 from creating accounts.

Platforms failing to comply may face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 32.8 million USD). However, no punishment applies to children under 16, their parents, or guardians if the rule is violated from their side. So far, 10 platforms have been ordered to enforce the ban: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick, and Reddit. Officials may update the list as needed.

A recent poll shows strong public support for the ban, with 73% of Australians backing the measure. However, only 26% believe it will be fully effective, and 68% think children will find ways to bypass it. Support is highest among teachers (84%) and parents (75%), but drops to 62% among those aged 16 to 24, according to a survey by the Australia-based data and digital media company Pureprofile.

Despite agreeing to follow the law, many social media platforms are opposing it, arguing that enforcement will be difficult and could push young users toward unsafe corners of the internet. Reddit stated on Tuesday that it will comply but disagrees with the law’s “scope, effectiveness, and privacy implications.” Australia’s under-16 social media ban has gained global attention, with countries such as Denmark, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia, and New Zealand reportedly considering similar measures.