Children and young people must be protected from the "predatory algorithms" of social media. Therefore, starting December 10, having a personal profile on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or other similar platforms will be prohibited in Australia for anyone under 16. For the country's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, the measure is intended to allow young people to "enjoy their childhood" and parents to "have peace of mind."
The Canberra government is the first in the world to introduce such a measure. Specifically, the new rules affect ten social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Snapchat, Kick, Twitch, TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube. Enforcing them and ensuring the ban is effectively enforced will be the responsibility of the companies that operate them: those that fail to take "reasonable measures" to block access to those under 16 will face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (28 million euros). Parents and children, however, will not be held liable for violations. The proposal to ban social media for those under 16 was put forward by Labour MP Albanese in September 2024, and also found support within the opposition and among the public.
It was then approved by Parliament a year ago, with its entry into force scheduled for December 10, 2025. However, local media emphasized, not everyone is convinced the measure will work. "I'm not confident," said the prime minister's current main rival, opposition leader Sussan Ley. "We've known from the beginning that this process won't be 100% perfect," Albanese acknowledged. "But the message contained in this law is 100% clear."
The Australian Prime Minister claims that, in several cases, the well-being of young people "has been destroyed by the worst of social media," also recalling the experiences of parents "who are experiencing the devastating pain of losing children" who are victims of serious situations such as cyberbullying. He urged children and young people to make better use of the hours previously spent "scrolling on their phones." "Take up a new sport, learn to play an instrument, or read a book," he suggested, emphasizing in particular the need to spend "quality time with friends and family." While not welcoming the measure, most of the affected social media platforms have already publicly stated their willingness to comply. However, it is not out of the question that some may attempt to challenge the new law in court.
As the BBC points out, restrictions on minors' use of social media also exist in other countries, although none currently have a complete ban. Malaysia, Spain, and Norway are some of the countries where measures similar to the Australian one are under discussion. In Italy, where several legislative proposals are under consideration, the minimum age for opening a social media profile is currently 14, while those under this age require parental consent.
(Unioneonline)