In a bold move to protect young Australians from the potential harms of social media, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to introduce new legislation that will ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. The proposal, which has garnered broad bipartisan support, will be presented to state and territory leaders this week before being introduced to parliament later this month.
In a statement, Albanese emphasized the need for action to safeguard children, noting that social media is causing significant harm to young users. “This one is for the mums and dads. Social media is doing real harm to kids, and I’m calling time on it,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to curbing the risks young Australians face online.
Under the new laws, tech companies and social media platforms will be responsible for verifying users’ ages, shifting the burden away from parents. Albanese stressed that there would be no penalties for users under the new regulations, as the focus will be on ensuring companies comply with age restrictions.
The legislation is expected to have a major impact on the way tech companies operate in Australia, forcing them to take more responsibility for the safety of their younger users. With implementation expected in late November, Australia will become a global leader in the movement to protect children in the digital age.
