Janice R. Andrews
Australia has taken a groundbreaking step in regulating teen social media use, with lawmakers passing the Social Media Minimum Age bill on Thursday. The legislation prohibits children under 16 from using platforms like Meta, X, and TikTok, positioning the country as a global test case for stricter online regulations.
The law mandates social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to block underage users from creating accounts. Companies failing to comply could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (€30.5 million; $32 million).
After passing the lower house on Wednesday, the bill was approved by the Senate late Thursday. Trials to test enforcement methods will begin in January, with the full ban set to take effect within a year.
Uncertainty Over Enforcement
While the bill has bipartisan support, critics highlight its lack of clear enforcement guidelines. Platforms cannot require users to provide government-issued IDs or use government-backed digital identification to verify ages. Additionally, parents and underage users will not face penalties for breaching the rules.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the move, urging young Australians to spend more time outdoors participating in sports and other activities. However, Green Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticized the bill, calling it disconnected from how teens interact with the internet.
“This is boomers trying to dictate how young people use the internet,” Hanson-Young remarked.
Sunita Bose, Managing Director of DIGI, a digital industry organization, also called for more clarity on implementation. “We have the bill but no guidance from the government on what methods will work for the many services subject to this law,” she said.
A Model for Global Regulation?
Australia’s initiative could inspire other countries considering similar measures. Spain recently proposed raising the minimum social media age to 16, and France has attempted to restrict access for users under 15, though parental consent provides a workaround.
In the United States, platforms have long required parental consent to collect data from users under 13. Meanwhile, China enforces strict limits, capping minors’ usage of Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) at 40 minutes per day.
Australia’s legislation marks a significant shift in the global conversation about social media’s impact on young users. As other nations observe its implementation, the law could shape future efforts to balance online safety with privacy and accessibility.
This bold measure highlights growing concerns about digital well-being, emphasizing the need to protect younger generations while navigating complex technological challenges.
