In a significant move aimed at safeguarding young Australians’ mental well-being, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a new regulation that will restrict social media use for those under 16. Social media companies will be required to enforce this age restriction or face substantial penalties for non-compliance.
Strict enforcement responsibility placed on social platforms
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that the responsibility to block underage users falls squarely on social media companies, stating, “The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access. The onus won’t be on parents or young people.” Non-compliance will result in fines solely for the platforms, sparing parents and young users from penalties.
Part of broader tech accountability initiatives
The age restriction is part of a larger campaign by Australia’s Labour government to increase accountability among tech giants. This initiative, Albanese said, also aims to curb misinformation and promote mental health. Australia has been proactive in regulating big tech, previously introducing a law that requires companies like Google and Facebook to pay for news content shared on their platforms.
Legal action against platforms for harmful content
The government’s actions go beyond age restrictions. Recently, officials took legal action against Elon Musk's X Corp for failing to remove a video of a terrorist attack in Sydney. Additional regulations are under consideration to combat misinformation and disinformation on social media, though specific enforcement measures and potential fines are yet to be disclosed.
Europe sets age-based social media restrictions
Australia’s move aligns with a global trend. Across Europe, countries are implementing age-based social media restrictions to protect young users. France recently enforced parental consent for users under 15, and the UK is considering restricting smartphone sales to individuals over 16. These efforts are supported by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which allows member states to set minimum ages for digital consent.
Despite these new restrictions, enforcing age limits remains challenging globally due to varying regulations and technical barriers in verifying users' ages online.
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