The Albanese government’s proposal to restrict social media access for children under 16 has won approval from all six Australian states and two territories.
Under the new legislation, tech companies that fail to enforce age restrictions will face hefty penalties.
The bill, expected to be introduced in Parliament during the next sitting fortnight, will place responsibility on social media platforms to ensure compliance with age restrictions, rather than on parents or children themselves.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pointed out that the new law will protect children from online harms while giving parents clearer guidelines.
“Social media is doing social harm to our kids. I’m calling time on it,” Albanese said.
During a National Cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders on Nov. 8, Albanese reiterated the need for uniformity across the country.
While Tasmania initially called for the age to be lowered to 14, it ultimately supported the federal government’s stance
No Exceptions for Existing Accounts or Parental Consent
According to Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland, the age threshold balances the need to protect young people from social harm while considering their development and access to necessary online services.“Introducing a minimum age for social media access is about protecting young people—not punishing or isolating them,” the minister said.
She also said it was important for social media platforms to take responsibility for the safety of their users, noting significant penalties for non-compliance.
“This measure is a key component of our work across the online safety space and will enable young people to use the internet in a safer and more positive way,” Rowland said.
The new law will not allow exceptions for existing accounts or parental consent. This means that children who have already created social media accounts will not be “grandfathered” into the system and allowed access.
The bill will give platforms up to 12 months to implement the necessary systems and processes following its passage.
Broad Political Consensus
Both major political parties in Australia have backed the move to set 16 as the minimum age for social media access.The opposition has expressed support with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton writing to the prime minister advocating for the laws to take effect immediately rather than after a 12 month preparation period.
The letter also warned “there should not be any scenario under the legislation where the major social media platforms can be exempted from the operation of the new laws.”
In response, Minister Rowland confirmed that major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, will not be exempt from the proposed ban.
“They won’t be exempt, they’re in a range which is called aged-restricted services as defined under the legislation, just as alcohol is an age-restricted product,” Rowland said.
