Thu Nov 21 04:42:17 UTC 2024: ## Australia Passes World-First Law Banning Under-16s from Social Media
**Melbourne, Australia –** Australia has become the first country to introduce a law banning children under 16 from using social media platforms. The legislation, introduced by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland on Thursday, aims to address concerns about online safety and the harmful effects of social media on young people.
The bill, which enjoys broad political support, will impose fines of up to AU$50 million (US$33 million) on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram for systemic failures to prevent underage children from accessing their services. Platforms will have one year to implement age verification systems after the bill becomes law.
Minister Rowland cited government research showing that 95% of Australian caregivers consider online safety a major parenting challenge. She highlighted statistics indicating that a significant portion of 14- to 17-year-olds have been exposed to harmful online content, including material related to drug abuse, self-harm, violence, and unhealthy eating habits.
While acknowledging concerns from child welfare experts about isolating teenagers from their online networks, Rowland clarified that the ban does not extend to messaging services, online games, or platforms primarily focused on education and health. The government is working with Age Check Certification Scheme to develop age verification technologies, including age estimation and inference methods. Strict penalties will also be imposed for misuse of personal data collected for age verification.
The Digital Industry Group Inc. criticized the law as a “20th-century response to 21st-century challenges.” The government is also exploring measures to restrict access to online pornography for under-18s. The new legislation represents a significant step by Australia to prioritize online child safety, albeit one met with some controversy and debate.
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