Australia’s government is moving to implement some of the world’s strictest social media regulations. The landmark bill aims to prohibit individuals under the age of 16 from using platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and X.
The introduction of laws by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was intended to safeguard minors from internet abuse. Additionally, penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) were imposed on social media corporations for noncompliance.
The legislation mandates an age-verification system that could use biometrics or government identification to enforce restrictions. “There will be very strong and strict privacy requirements to protect people’s personal information, including an obligation to destroy information provided once age has been verified,” Albanese stated in parliament.
The proposed laws would establish the world’s highest age restriction for social media, with no exemptions for parental consent or existing accounts. Critics have raised concerns about potential overreach, with Elon Musk calling the legislation “a backdoor attempt to control internet access for all Australians.”
The Albanese government claims that the regulations are required to address the growing risks to children’s physical and mental health. Michelle Rowland, the Communications Minister, said that roughly two-thirds of Australians aged 14 to 17 had encountered harmful information online, including drug addiction, suicide, and self-harm.
Despite these concerns, the measure has sparked debate on children’s rights, including access to information and freedom of speech. Instead of implementing a blanket ban, the Australian Human Rights Commission has advocated less stringent options, such as imposing a legal duty of care on platforms and incorporating digital literacy into national curriculums.
Critics warn that the legislation requires platforms to install strict age-verification processes, which may jeopardize the privacy of all Australians. Furthermore, detractors argue that technical solutions such as VPNs may undermine the ban’s effectiveness, which fail to address the root causes of online harm.
The government plans to fast-track the bill through parliament, aiming for its passage by the end of the year. “Social media has a social responsibility … that’s why we are making big changes to hold platforms to account for user safety,” Rowland affirmed.
As Australia prepares to implement some of the world’s toughest social media controls, debates over protecting children and safeguarding individual rights continue to intensify.
