Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Thursday that the government will introduce legislation to ban social media access for children under 16, a move the government calls “world-leading.”
The bill, expected to be introduced this year, would place full responsibility on platforms, not parents, to restrict underage access.
“Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese stated, emphasizing that social media giants like Meta (Instagram, Facebook), ByteDance (TikTok), and Elon Musk’s X would need to prove they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access by minors. Alphabet’s YouTube is also expected to be impacted by the new regulations.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland noted that Australia’s policy would be among the strictest globally. Unlike France’s similar rule, which allows underage use with parental consent, Australia’s law will have no such exemptions. The law will take effect 12 months after parliamentary approval, reinforcing Australia’s stance on child online safety.
