Australian Government to Enforce 16+ Age Limit on Social Media Platforms

The Australian government unveiled, on Thursday, what it claimed to be groundbreaking legislation, setting a minimum age of 16 for social media usage and holding platforms accountable for ensuring compliance.

This legislation is slated to be introduced in Parliament during its final two-week session beginning on November 18. The age restriction would come into effect 12 months post-enactment, Albanese informed the press. Platforms such as X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook would need to utilise this year to devise methods to block Australian users under 16.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared, “Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it.

“I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online.”

This initiative arises amid global efforts to regulate young people’s use of technologies like smartphones and social media.

While social media platforms would face penalties for breaching the age limit, underage children and their parents would not. “The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access. The onus won’t be on parents or young people,” Albanese clarified.

Antigone Davis, Meta’s head of safety, which owns Facebook and Instagram, affirmed the company’s compliance with any governmental age restrictions, stating, “However, what’s missing is a deeper discussion on how we implement protections, otherwise we risk making ourselves feel better, like we have taken action, but teens and parents will not find themselves in a better place.”

She suggested that enhanced tools in app stores and operating systems for parental control over apps would be a “simple and effective solution.”

Over 140 Australian and international academics with expertise in technology and child welfare opposed the age limit in an open letter to Albanese last month, labelling it “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.”

Albanese mentioned that exemptions would apply in cases requiring continued access to educational services. However, parental consent would not permit a child under 16 to access social media.

Earlier this year, the government initiated a trial of age-restriction technologies. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, who will oversee compliance, will use the trial results to guide platforms on feasible steps they can take.

Frances Ibiefo

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