Australia’s new social media minimum age law has made the country an important example for other governments that are creating or considering similar rules to protect young people’s mental health. Several countries, including France and some US states, have already passed laws that limit minors’ access to social media unless they have parental permission. But Australia’s law is much stricter — it completely bans social media use for anyone under 16. Passing this law is seen as a political win for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who leads a center-left government. Although privacy experts and some child rights groups opposed the ban, public opinion strongly supported it, with 77% of Australians in favor. Many experts say social media can be harmful for children under 16. Research from the US Department of Health and Human Services shows that children and teens who use social media for more than three hours a day are twice as likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. Another survey found that 46% of teens aged 13 to 17 feel that social media makes them feel worse. Likewise, the World Health Organization released a survey in September 2024 involving more than 280,000 children aged 11, 13, and 15 from 44 countries. In that survey, 11% of the children said they had faced different problems because of social media.
A study conducted in the US revealed that spending too much time on social media not only reduces children’s confidence but also decreases their appetite. 46% of the girls aged 13 to 17 who participated in the survey reported that social media made them feel bad about their bodies. 64% of the children surveyed said they experience cyberbullying daily. Furthermore, there are many people on social media who target young children and exploit them to fulfill their sexual desires or extort money from them. Six out of ten girls surveyed said that a stranger on social media had spoken to them in a way that made them feel very uncomfortable. The biggest challenge for the government is how to implement age restrictions on social media. They said, “While social media can cause problems like sleep disturbances and body image issues in some children, it can also be a lifeline for children living in rural areas or those with disabilities.” Even if children under 16 are unable to create accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, they will still have access to other messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Discord. The report states, “It would be naive to assume that bullying activities will not simply shift from one platform to another.” Isabelle, a 13-year-old, took less than five minutes to circumvent Australia’s social media ban on children, which is considered “one of the strictest in the world.”
Australia has taken a new and stringent step regarding online safety for children. Children under the age of 16 will now be prohibited from creating accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other major social media platforms. This new law was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described the move as a “world-first step to protect young people.” He stated that the negative impact of social media on children has increased and that “enough is enough.” Under the new rules, social media platforms will be required to remove accounts of users under 16 years old or face hefty fines. Following the implementation of this law, many children across the country had their accounts on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok shut down.
It’s worth noting that Instagram alone has approximately 350,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15. The government clarified that not everyone will have to verify their age, but those whose age is questioned may be required to provide proof. Children will still be able to view some content without logging in, but they will not be able to create personal accounts. This sparked an emotional debate in the country, setting a precedent for jurisdictions worldwide with one of the strictest regulations targeting Big Tech. The government has applied these rules to ten platforms, including Snapchat. Snapchat sent a notification to Isabel.
It said that if she couldn’t prove that she was over 16 years old, her account would be closed. Isabel says, “I took a picture of my mother and showed it to the camera, and then the system crashed. After that, the screen displayed ‘Thank you for verifying your age’.” She adds, “I heard that someone used Beyoncé’s (the famous American singer) face to do this. The system accepted that too.” It also serves as a support system for children living in these areas. The biggest concern in this regard is also related to the technical aspect. There are fears that children who are adept at circumventing technology might use VPNs to misrepresent their age and log in to accounts, thus bypassing the ban. Many experts say that the focus should be on forcing social media companies to better control harmful content. They believe that the power of the companies’ algorithms should be limited and children should be better prepared for the real world of the internet. Additionally, due to the challenges in implementing age restrictions on social media platforms, it is also important to emphasize that the role of parents and educational institutions in providing online safety becomes crucial. Overall, governments, educators, and tech firms should collaborate on regulations that balance safety with digital engagement.
