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Failure to comply with this obligation will result in fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (30.7 million euros). The bill received the green light from the Australian Senate on Thursday, after that of the Lower House the day before, and there is no doubt about its entry into force.
Center-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is preparing for elections early next year, enthusiastically defended the new rules and rallied the support of many fathers and mothers. Ahead of the vote, Albanese said social media was “a platform for social pressure, a source of anxiety, a channel for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators.” .
“I will find a way”
He said he wanted young Australians to “put down their phones and instead go to the football and cricket fields, the tennis courts, the volleyball courts and the swimming pool”. Before the vote, several platforms denounced a “rushed” decision, expressing “serious concerns” about potential “unforeseen consequences”.
Young Australians are already saying they intend to circumvent this ban. “I will find a way, and my friends will do the same,” said 12-year-old Angus Lydom. “I would like to continue using (social networks), it would be strange not to have them and not to be able to talk to my friends when I am at home,” he explains.
The same goes for Elsie Arkinstall, 11, who believes that social networks have their place even for children, to watch baking or art tutorials. “You can’t learn all this from books,” she said. On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.
Blurred outlines
But the exact contours of its application remain unclear. The text provides almost no details on its application methods so that some experts have expressed doubts about the technical feasibility of this ban and questioning its symbolic nature.
Tech companies will have at least a year to comply with the new obligation, while Australian regulators clarify the details relating to the application of the law. Certain platforms like WhatsApp and Youtube, which teenagers might need to do their homework, should also be exempted.
Programs teaching children to think “critically” about what they see online should be adopted, as Finland does, said social media expert Susan Grantham.
Similar measure in China
The entry into force of this new legislation will be closely monitored abroad, with several countries also considering implementing similar restrictions. In the US state of Florida, a law is due to come into force in January to prohibit the opening of an account to under-14s but the practical arrangements have not been determined.
In Spain, the government also presented a draft bill in June to prohibit access to social networks for those under 16, although the method of age verification has not been determined. There is no scheduled date for review of the text.
## Australia Passes Landmark Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Australia has made history by becoming the first country to implement a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-83aa2ed05334732e794542f00c3590b0)]
The bill, which passed both houses of parliament with overwhelming support, imposes hefty fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million USD) on social media platforms that fail to enforce the age restriction.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese championed the legislation, arguing that social media poses significant risks to young Australians, including cyberbullying, anxiety, exposure to scams, and online predation. He emphasized the importance of encouraging children to engage in offline activities like sports and recreation. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-83aa2ed05334732e794542f00c3590b0)]
However, the move has been met with mixed reactions. While many parents lauded the government’s efforts to protect children online, social media companies expressed concerns about the potential unintended consequences of the ban, arguing that it was a ”rushed” decision. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-83aa2ed05334732e794542f00c3590b0)]
Adding to the debate, some young Australians have indicated their intention to circumvent the ban, highlighting the potential challenges in effectively enforcing the legislation.
**The ban raises several important questions:**
* Will the ban effectively protect children from online harms, or will it simply drive them to less regulated online spaces?
* How will the ban impact the social lives and development of young Australians who rely on social media for communication and connection?
* What measures will be put in place to ensure that the ban is enforced fairly and effectively?
The Australian experiment will undoubtedly be closely watched by other countries grappling with the challenges of regulating social media use among young people. The long-term impacts of this landmark legislation remain to be seen.
