Under new laws being proposed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, children under 16 years of age will be banned from using social media as a result of concerns being raised about the mental health of young people using these platforms.
At a press conference, Albanese said that the government will not penalise children and their parents if the ban is not enforced but instead expects social media companies to “demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access”.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland suggested that increased penalties may come into place for social media brands not cooperating with the ban. The eSafety Commissioner will reportedly have responsibility for the enforcement of these laws.
The proposed laws will front a virtual national cabinet meeting on Friday. If the legislation is introduced, the ban will come into force 12 months after the law is passed. is passed.
“Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese said. “I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online, and I want Australian parents and families to know that the government has your back”.
“I want parents to be able to say: ‘Sorry, mate, it’s against the law’.”
The debate around the minimum age for social media usage has been heating up over the last few months. Just yesterday, the 36 Months social change initiative to amend legislation to raise the minimum age Australian teenagers can sign up for social media accounts from 13 to 16 became the world’s largest social media age limit petition on Change.org with over 124,000 signatures as founders prepared to meet with the Prime minister today.
“The overwhelming support on Change.org for 36 Months’ petition highlights how deeply this issue resonates with Australians. We’re proud to be a part of the crucial conversation about how best to protect young people in the digital age, and it’s been inspiring to see people from all around the world come to Change.org to share their voice on the issue, with 36 Months’ campaign at the forefront,” said Ben Rattray, Change.org founder and CEO.
“For 36 Months to be the biggest Change.org petition in the world advocating for a safer environment online for our kids, sends a clear message from Australian families to the government: we need to raise the minimum age for social media to 16, not 15, not 14 – make it 16. We’re now ready to take this petition to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and give him the opportunity to be a world leader in social media regulation,” said 36 Months founder Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, Nova.
The news comes just weeks after the Social Media Summit, jointly hosted by NSW and South Australian governments, revealed research that suggests 87 per cent of respondents support age limit increases on social media.
Key insights from the NSW Governments Have Your Say research, which ran from August 11 to September 15, 2024, reinforced the urgency of the discussion and shaped the conversations of the summit. Over 21,000 participants contributed to the consultation, with 87 per cent of respondents supporting the introduction of an age limit for social media use—the most common suggestion being 16 years. The data reflected a broad consensus across different demographics that age restrictions are crucial, with parents and females being the most supportive.
Parental concerns were particularly pronounced. The findings revealed that 76 per cent of parents of 5-17-year-olds reported their child’s daily social media usage, averaging 2 hours and 19 minutes—a figure that rose to 3 hours and 18 minutes for older teens. Many parents expressed fears about exposure to inappropriate content and the dangers posed by online predators. Notably, households in regional areas, single-parent families, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities reported the highest levels of screen time among children.
While parents voiced significant concerns about the negative impacts of social media on their children—32 per cent reported it had a negative effect—teenagers appeared more optimistic. 26 per cent of 16-17-year-olds claimed social media had a positive impact on their lives, with only 8 per cent citing negative consequences. This disconnect between parents and teens highlighted the complex nature of the issue and the need for more comprehensive education on the potential harms of social media.
