Official announcements from Australian regulatory bodies or major news outlets reporting fines

Australia Bans Social Media for Under-16s; Platforms Face Fines Up to $33 Million

Dec 1, 2024, 10:30 AM

Australia has passed world-first legislation banning children and teenagers under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. The bill was approved by the Australian Senate with bipartisan support in late November and aims to safeguard the mental health and well-being of young people by restricting their exposure to social media. The law requires social media companies to implement measures to prevent minors from creating accounts, and platforms that do not comply could face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 33 million). Enforcement of the ban remains uncertain, with concerns over practical implementation and age verification methods. The law is set to come into effect within the next 12 months. The ban has been met with significant public support in Australia, with a YouGov survey indicating that 77% of Australians favor the move. Australia has approximately 3.3 million young people under the age of 16 affected by this law. Psychologists, parents, and politicians around the world are calling for their countries to adopt similar measures. However, the legislation has sparked criticism from big tech companies, which argue that the ban is impractical and raises concerns about privacy and age verification methods. Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has expressed concerns that the law did not consider the voices of young people. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has criticized the ban, suggesting it infringes on freedom of expression. In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated his willingness to discuss the matter with Musk, stating that Musk's criticism reflects his own agenda as a social media platform owner. Other countries are observing Australia's actions closely, with some considering similar measures. Governments in Florida, Texas, France, and the United Kingdom are exploring ways to raise social media age limits or tighten content oversight to protect minors. Australia's move has ignited a global debate on how best to safeguard children online, balancing the protection of young people with issues of privacy, enforcement challenges, and the role of parental responsibility.