Australia has enacted a nationwide ban on social media for those under 16, aimed at protecting young people’s mental health. The law mandates age verification, imposes hefty fines for non-compliance, and provides a one-year implementation period for platforms like Facebook and Instagram to adapt.
Australia has made history by becoming the first country to implement a nationwide ban on social media platforms for children under 16. This landmark legislation, passed by the Australian Parliament, seeks to protect young people’s mental health and well-being from the potential harms of excessive online activity. The Senate passed the bill on November 28 by 34 votes to 19. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved the legislation by 102 votes to 13.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the law supported parents concerned by online harms to their children. “Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them,” Albanese told reporters.
There are no penalties for young people or parents who flout the rules. Social media companies also won’t be able to force users to provide government identification, including the Digital ID, to assess their age.
The social media platforms have one year to work out how they could implement the ban. Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said the legislation had been “rushed.” The platforms had complained that the law would be unworkable. Meta had urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June 2025 when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies will report on how young children could be excluded.
“Naturally, we respect the laws decided by the Australian Parliament,” Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms said. “However, we are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people.”
Snapchat said in a statement, “While there are many unanswered questions about how this law will be implemented in practice, we will engage closely with the Government and the eSafety Commissioner during the 12-month implementation period to help develop an approach that balances privacy, safety and practicality. As always, Snap will comply with any applicable laws and regulations in Australia.”
