Towards a ban on social networks before the age of 14 or 16

Offline – The Australian Prime Minister has announced a bill to restrict access to social media to those aged 14 or 16

Will teens soon have to say goodbye to TikTok and Instagram in Australia? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a bill set to become law this year that would set the minimum age for social media use between 14 and 16.

Calling the sites a “scourge” for young people, he said the federal law establishing the limit would be implemented in 2024, specifying that the minimum age to connect to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok should be set between 14 and 16 years old.

“Social networks are harming society”

“I want to see children away from their screens and (instead) on football pitches, in swimming pools and on tennis courts,” said the centre-left Prime Minister.

“We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is hurting society,” he said on national broadcaster ABC.

Asked several times about the issue, Anthony Albanese indicated that he personally supported a minimum age of 16. Conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton supported the government’s bill. “Every day of delay leaves young children vulnerable to threats from social media” (…) - 20minutes