Children Under 16 Face Ban From Social Media Under New Australian Bill

The bill follows a months-long discussion on how a ban would work.

The icons of social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp, in a file photo dated Jan. 3, 2018. Yui Mok/PA Wire

Children younger than 16 may soon be barred from social media as the Labor government backs a stricter age limit for digital platforms.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Nov. 7 that if passed, the new laws will take effect a year later, with a planned review to assess their effect.

A special national Cabinet meeting scheduled for Nov. 8 will seek support for the policy from state and territory leaders.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said there was a sound reason for the one-year lead-in time.

“It’s to enable the government to give this legislative intent life, but also to ensure that its implementation is capable of being done in a very practical way,” she said.

Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook currently have a minimum age of 14, but the platforms have been criticised for a lack of enforcement.

Platforms Responsible for Enforcement, Not Parents

Under the proposed rules, social media companies, not parents, would be responsible for enforcing the age restriction, and users themselves would face no penalties.

The eSafety commissioner will issue regulatory guidance setting out what reasonable steps can be taken by platforms, and that will be informed by a previous trial used to test the age restrictions.

“We have laws, like the 18 plus rule for alcohol, which sometimes get broken. But these laws define societal boundaries,” the prime minister said.

Currently, maximum fines are less than a million dollars, which, Rowland said, is significantly lower than penalties under consumer law.

She highlighted that the government will work to ensure that the eSafety regulator is properly funded to handle compliance measures.

No Exceptions for Existing Accounts or Parental Consent

Albanese clarified that the legislation would exclude grandfathering arrangements, meaning that children who already have social media accounts wouldn’t be exempt, nor would parental consent allow for any exceptions.

Both major political parties support increasing the minimum age for social media access, with the coalition also advocating a cutoff at 16.

Although several platforms already prohibit users younger than 14, enforcing age limits has proven challenging.

“I want parents to be able to say, ‘Sorry, it’s against the law to let you use this,’” Albanese said.

Youth Advocates Seek Broader Online Safety Measures

Current data from ReachOut Youth Advocates show that about 93 percent of young Australians use social media daily, with 73 percent turning to these platforms for mental health support.

Advocates called for a broader approach to online safety.

“Age verification isn’t a quick fix,” Layla Wang, of ReachOut Youth Advocates, said.

She noted the complexities around who would manage verification—government, third parties, or platforms—and what documentation would be required.

Arjun Kapoor, of the eSafety commissioner’s advisory council, said that poorly defined age verification plans could cause anxiety.

“If verification ensures privacy and accuracy and is uniformly applied, young people might accept it, but those are significant requirements,” Kapoor said.

Advocates suggest that digital literacy education in schools could help students better navigate social media.

“One of the main things we need is relevant education, preferably taught by young people with lived experience,” Wang said.

Public health-style campaigns were also recommended, with content promoting safe social media.