Children under 16 may soon be barred from social media as the Labor government backs a stricter age limit for digital platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Nov. 7 that if passed, the new laws will take effect a year later, with a planned review to assess its impact.
A special national cabinet meeting scheduled for Nov. 8 will seek support for the policy from state and territory leaders.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said there was a sound reason for the one-year lead-in time.
“It’s to enable the government to give this legislative intent life, but also to ensure that its implementation is capable of being done in a very practical way,” she said.
Platforms Responsible for Enforcement, Not Parents
Under the proposed rules, social media companies, not parents, would be responsible for enforcing the age restriction, and users themselves would face no penalties.
The eSafety commissioner will issue regulatory guidance setting out what reasonable steps can be taken by platforms, and that will be informed by a previous trial used to test the age restrictions.
“We have laws, like the 18 plus rule for alcohol, which sometimes get broken. But these laws define societal boundaries,” the prime minister said.
Currently, maximum fines are under a million dollars, which, Rowland said, is significantly lower than penalties under consumer law.
No Exceptions for Existing Accounts or Parental Consent
Albanese clarified that the legislation would exclude grandfathering arrangements, meaning children who already have social media accounts wouldn’t be exempt, nor would parental consent allow for any exceptions.Both major political parties support increasing the minimum age for social media access, with the Coalition also advocating for a cut-off at 16.
Although several platforms already prohibit users under 14, enforcing age limits has proven challenging.
Youth Advocates Seek Broader Online Safety Measures
Current data from ReachOut Youth Advocates reveals about 93 percent of young Australians use social media daily, with 73 percent turning to these platforms for mental health support.In a recent Senate Committee on Use on Social Media, recognising the benefits of social media but warned of potential risks, including cyberbullying, misinformation, and addictive algorithms.
Advocates called for a broader approach to online safety.
“Age verification isn’t a quick fix,” said Layla Wang from ReachOut Youth Advocates.
She noted the complexities around who would manage verification—government, third parties, or platforms—and what documentation would be required.
Arjun Kapoor of the eSafety commissioner’s advisory council expressed that poorly defined age verification plans could cause anxiety.
“If verification ensures privacy and accuracy and is uniformly applied, young people might accept it, but those are significant requirements,” Kapoor said.
Advocates suggest that digital literacy education in schools could help students better navigate social media.
“One of the main things we need is relevant education, preferably taught by young people with lived experience,” Wang stated.
Public health-style campaigns were also recommended, with content promoting safe social media.
