Australia is taking a bold step to protect children from the potential harms of social media. The country is set to introduce legislation banning minors from using popular platforms like Elon Musk’s X, Mark Zuckerberg’s Instagram and Facebook, and Bytedance’s TikTok. This move highlights the growing concerns over the negative impacts of social media on young minds, particularly when it comes to cyberbullying and access to harmful content.
The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, announced its plans to introduce this law this year, emphasizing the importance of real-world activities for children compared to virtual interactions. The government believes that social media contributes to social harm and is currently considering a ban for children between 14 and 16 years old. They will initiate an age verification trial in the coming months to test the feasibility of implementing such a ban.
This initiative follows a request from Australia’s eSafety regulator in July, urging internet companies to create an enforceable code preventing children from accessing inappropriate content. Failure to comply could result in the imposition of a mandatory code. Prime Minister Albanese acknowledges the global nature of the issue, noting that many countries are facing similar challenges in regulating social media platforms and protecting children online.
This proposed ban in Australia reflects the growing global scrutiny of social media companies. In June, Prime Minister Albanese criticized Meta Platforms Inc. for its “arrogant and irresponsible” behavior regarding paying local media organizations for their content. This came after Meta threatened to block news content in Australia if forced to pay licensing fees. Earlier that month, Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) won a legal battle against the Australian government, which had sought to remove footage of a church stabbing in Sydney. Musk emphasized the importance of “freedom of speech” following the case’s dismissal.
The Australian government’s concerns about social media companies are further reflected in their announcement of a parliamentary inquiry in May into the operations of major platforms, including Meta’s Facebook, Musk’s X, and TikTok. The inquiry aims to hold these platforms accountable for their decisions and address the potential harms they pose to users, particularly children.
This proposed ban in Australia represents a significant step towards regulating social media use among minors. It remains to be seen how the legislation will be implemented and the impact it will have on children’s access to social media and the companies that operate these platforms.
