In a landmark decision, Australia has passed legislation banning social media access for children under 16 years old. The law aims to protect children's mental health and well-being, addressing growing concerns about the negative impacts of social media on young users.
Social media platforms will be required to implement robust age verification processes. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to AUS $50 million (approximately US $32.4 million). The responsibility for compliance rests solely with the platforms, not children or parents.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the legislation aims to "preserve childhood" and reassure parents that their children's well-being is a priority. While acknowledging that some children may attempt to circumvent the ban, he emphasized the platforms' responsibility to enforce the restrictions effectively.
The law is expected to apply to popular platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, but educational channels like YouTube may be exempt. The legislation allows for some flexibility in age verification methods to protect user privacy, stopping short of requiring ID uploads.
While the law has broad community support, Meta has criticized it for ambiguity regarding the "reasonable steps" platforms must take to comply. The legislation will come into effect in 12 months, giving platforms time to implement the necessary changes.
