Australia has approved a groundbreaking ban on social media use for all children under the age of 16, one of the strictest regulations in the world regarding digital platform usage.
The new law forces tech giants such as Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok to block minors from accessing their services, with fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 30.5 million euros, 32 million US dollars) for non-compliance.
The law will come into effect in one year, preceded by a trial phase starting in January 2025 to test age verification methods. However, it already places Canberra at the forefront of the global debate on the mental health impact of social media on young people, a debate that has never resulted in such drastic measures before.
The Australian ban is absolute, with no exceptions, distinguishing it from similar legislation, such as the one passed in Florida last March. In the Sunshine State, the social media ban is absolute only for children under 14, while for those aged 15 to 16, parental consent is required (the law is currently suspended due to a legal dispute over freedom of speech concerns).
The ban has received widespread public support, with 77% of Australians in favor, according to polls. The “Let Them Be Kids” campaign, promoted by local media, capitalized on heartbreaking testimonies collected during a parliamentary inquiry, which included numerous stories from parents whose children had taken their own lives due to online bullying.
However, critics are not lacking. Some advocacy groups fear that the ban could isolate the most vulnerable young people, such as members of the LGBTQIA community or migrant teenagers, depriving them of crucial support networks. Others warn that the age verification methods could lead to more invasive personal data collection, enhancing a Big Brother effect from public authorities.
Tech giants like Meta and Snapchat have expressed reservations about the law. A Meta spokesperson described the legislative process as “rushed” and lamented the lack of consultation with the industry. Snapchat, while announcing its intention to comply, raised concerns about balancing privacy, safety, and practicality. Other tech giants, such as TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), have not made official comments. Alphabet’s YouTube, however, has been explicitly exempt from the legislation and will remain accessible to those under 16.
The law could also have diplomatic repercussions between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, especially considering the prominent role of billionaire Elon Musk, owner of one of the “banned” platforms (X), in the upcoming administration. Musk criticized the Australian ban in a tweet, calling it “a sneaky way to control access to the internet.”
Not everyone believes the law will achieve its objectives, though. Some young people argue that the ban could push adolescents toward less regulated platforms or alternative methods to bypass restrictions, increasing risks instead of mitigating them.
“We all know social media isn’t good for us, but this ban will just create a generation that’s better at bypassing these barriers, without addressing the root problems,” said Enie Lam, a 16-year-old student from Sydney, in an interview with Reuters.
