Australia is moving closer to banning social media for children under 16, with the lower house of Parliament passing a bill with bipartisan support. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese argues that excessive social media use poses risks to children’s physical and mental health. The planned law would require social media platforms to implement age-verification protections and could result in fines for breaches.
The bill has received support from parents, youth advocates, and some lawmakers, while facing opposition from tech companies like Google and Meta, who want the ban delayed. Some teenagers argue that a ban would disconnect them from important social connections and are working on reducing their social media use rather than a complete ban.
Despite opposition from some lawmakers and the Australian Human Rights Commission, public support for the ban is high, with 77% of Australians backing the move according to a recent survey. Australian media outlets, including News Corp., also support the ban under the “Let Them Be Kids” campaign.
The Senate is expected to debate the bill, with the government aiming to pass it by the end of the parliamentary year. The law is part of Australia’s effort to address the impact of social media on children, particularly in cases of cyberbullying and self-harm. Youth engagement and consultation are considered important as the law is implemented to ensure constructive pathways for connection for young people.
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