Summarised by Centrist
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to prohibit children under 16 from signing up for social media, citing concerns over mental health impacts.
Social media companies will be responsible for enforcing the ban. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are expected to comply strictly.
Albanese said that the government will ensure companies “take reasonable steps to prevent access.” However, the prime minister acknowledged the difficulty of fully enforcing the law. He likened it to underage drinking restrictions: “We don’t pretend that you can get a 100% outcome here.”
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland called the plan “world-leading,” as no other country has attempted a similar ban.
To enforce age restrictions, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has proposed a “double-blind tokenised approach,” which would involve verifying a user’s age through a third party without exposing personal details to platforms. The government is currently trialling this technology.
Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman, who first proposed a similar ban last year, voiced concerns about potential exemptions, stating, “There can’t be any scenario where products like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat can be exempted.” He criticised the government for not starting its age verification trials sooner, arguing that platforms cannot be made safe for young users.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has signalled he is open to following Australia’s lead.
