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Australia to Ban Under-16s from Social Media Under 'World-Leading' Laws, Even with Parental Consent

Nov 7, 2024, 06:30 AM

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to introduce 'world-leading legislation' that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, even if their parents consent. Albanese stated, 'Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I'm calling time on it.' The proposed laws aim to mitigate the mental and physical health risks associated with social media use among young people. The government intends to hold social media companies accountable for ensuring compliance by implementing age verification systems, with penalties for platforms that fail to enforce the age limit. The legislation is expected to be introduced later this month and could become law as early as 2025, making Australia the first country in the world to impose such a minimum social media age.