Australia Moves to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16: A Controversial Step Towards Online Safety
- M.R Mishra
- Nov 27, 2024
- 1 min read
Australia's House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday aimed at prohibiting children under 16 from accessing social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
The legislation, which is now awaiting Senate approval, seeks to impose fines of up to AUD 50 million ($33 million) on platforms that fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts.
The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, with a vote of 102 to 13. If enacted, social media platforms will have one year to develop methods to enforce the new age restrictions before penalties are implemented.
The government has also committed to Senate amendments to strengthen privacy protections, ensuring platforms cannot require government-issued IDs or demand digital identification from users.
Critics have raised concerns about the bill's rushed introduction, potential privacy risks, and its effectiveness in addressing the broader harms of social media. Independent lawmaker Zoe Daniel argued the legislation would have minimal impact, calling it a superficial attempt to appear proactive.
Opponents also fear the law could isolate children, push them toward riskier online spaces, and reduce incentives for platforms to improve safety measures.
Wayne Holdsworth, an online safety advocate whose teenage son tragically died after an online scam, described the bill as a vital step toward protecting children.
He emphasized that while the legislation is not a comprehensive solution, it represents a meaningful move toward safeguarding young users.
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