**Australia to Prohibit Social Media for Kids Under 16 to Address Online Risks**
Australia is set to enforce a prohibition on social media usage for individuals under the age of 16, a decision aimed at mitigating the adverse effects these platforms exert on youth. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled this initiative on Thursday, following a government resolution earlier in the week.
“Social media is detrimental to our kids, and it’s time to intervene,” Albanese stated at a press briefing at Parliament House in Canberra. “I’ve had discussions with numerous parents, grandparents, and caregivers. They, like myself, are extremely worried about our children’s safety on the internet.”
Albanese recognized that the forthcoming legislation won’t provide immediate solutions to all issues. “We don’t assert that these measures will rectify everything instantaneously,” he remarked. “Similar to our laws preventing individuals under 18 from purchasing alcohol, which may occasionally be overlooked, these regulations will establish clear societal limits and foster better outcomes.”
### No Exceptions for Parental Approval
The new regulation will prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media even if they have parental consent, and there will be no “grandfathering” for those currently using the platforms. The obligation to enforce the age restriction will rest entirely with social media companies, rather than parents or minors.
While some technology firms have made gradual advancements in this domain — for example, Instagram has recently rolled out more controlled “Teen Accounts” for users beneath 16 — the Australian government is advocating for more extensive actions.
At present, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat disallow users under 13 from setting up accounts, imposing various restrictions for those younger than 16 and 18. Nevertheless, the application of these rules has been inconsistent. In August, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against TikTok for purportedly breaching the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by permitting children under 13 to establish accounts without parental permission and gathering their personal information. This marks one of several legal actions directed at TikTok concerning child safety issues.
### Public Advocacy and Endorsements
The prime minister mentioned several public initiatives supporting tighter social media regulations, including the contentious “Let Them Be Kids” campaign spearheaded by NewsCorp. The social change organization 36Months, which has been actively advocating for an increase in the social media age limit to 16, was also represented at Parliament House during the announcement.
### Implementation Timeline
The Australian government will refine the specifics of the law in a virtual national cabinet meeting on Friday. The legislation is slated for introduction to Parliament in two weeks and is anticipated to be enacted 12 months post-passage. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland underscored that social media firms have been “put on notice” and will have a year to align with the new regulations.
The age limitations will be drawn from Australia’s existing *Online Safety Act*, enacted in 2021, which stands as the country’s primary legislation regarding online harm protection. The *eSafety Commissioner*, Australia’s independent online safety authority, will oversee and enforce the new policies, providing regulatory guidance to social media platforms.
### Which Platforms Will Be Included?
When questioned about specific services, Rowland clarified that the law will encompass prominent social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and potentially YouTube. The precise definition of “social media” will be specified in the legislation.
### Enforcement of the Ban
The particulars of how the ban will be enforced are yet to be fully defined. Prime Minister Albanese confirmed that users themselves will face no penalties. When inquired about the mechanism for age verification, Rowland indicated that an “age assurance trial” will be implemented over the coming year. This trial will evaluate whether the safeguards put in place by platforms are adequate to enforce the age restriction.
“There will need to be systems established to ensure that platforms are undertaking reasonable actions to adhere to the age limit,” Rowland clarified. “These platforms possess a better understanding of their users — their behaviors, capabilities, and the content they engage with. Over the next year, we will concentrate on guaranteeing that these platforms are doing enough to shield younger users.”
For additional information on children’s online safety, Mashable has further resources accessible.