Australia Proposes Bill To Ban Social Media For Kids

Australia has proposed a bill that will ban those under 16 from using social media, and it is proposing fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million) if social media platforms don’t adhere.

The ban aims to protect youth against the physical and mental harms of excessive use of social media platforms. Lawmakers still need to iron out many details of the bill, including the exact definition of social media and whether to allow exemptions in certain cases. However, the bill proposes a full ban, blocking access for anyone under 16, even with parental consent.

Experts believe the bill will affect platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, ByteDance’s TikTok, Elon Musk’s X, and Snapchat. However, it leaves Google Classroom and YouTube untouched, ensuring young people can still access messaging, online gaming, and health and education services.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government proposed the bill with support from the opposition Liberal Party, but independents and the Green Party are calling for further clarification.

Australia plans to trial new age-verification systems, including biometric technology and government identification, to ensure social media companies comply with the ban.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has warned that the proposed bill risks infringing on the human rights of children and youth. It suggested legislation requiring social media platforms to better protect children without an outright ban.

It argues that a full ban would infringe on young people’s rights by limiting access to information and restricting their freedom of expression. It also warns of adverse effects on their ability to socialize and interact with others.

The Commission highlights privacy concerns for all Australians, noting that the proposed age-verification techniques would require every user to provide identification to access the platforms.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent organization established by the Federal Parliament to “protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally.”