Australia bans access to social media for under-16s

The Australian Parliament approved legislation on Thursday, November 28, banning access to social networks for those under 16, one of the strictest measures in the world in this area for platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook.

The text, which obtained the agreement of both houses of Parliament and the support of the main parties, should soon oblige these platforms to take “reasonable measures” to prevent these teenagers from having an account.

Failure to comply with this obligation will result in fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (30.7 million euros). The bill obtained validation from the Australian Senate on Thursday, after that of the Lower House on Wednesday, and its entry into force is beyond doubt.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (center left), who is preparing for elections early next year, enthusiastically defended the new rules and won the support of many fathers and mothers. Ahead of the vote, Mr Albanese said social media was “a platform for social pressure, a source of anxiety, a channel for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators”. He said he wanted young Australians “put down their phones and instead go to the football and cricket fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts and the swimming pool”.

A “rushed” decision

Before the vote, several platforms denounced a decision “rushed”expressing “serious concerns” on potential “unintended consequences”. On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.

But the exact contours of its application remain unclear. The text provides almost no details on its application methods so that some experts have expressed doubts about the technical feasibility of this ban and question its symbolic nature.

Tech companies will have at least a year to comply with the new obligation, while Australian regulators clarify the details relating to the application of the law. Certain platforms such as WhatsApp and YouTube, which adolescents may need to do their homework, should also be exempted.

Lessons that encourage children to think “critically” what they see online should be adopted, like Finland, social media expert Susan Grantham told Agence France-Presse.

Similar restrictions considered abroad

The entry into force of this new legislation will be closely monitored abroad, with several countries also considering implementing similar restrictions.

In the American state of Florida, a law is due to come into force in January 2025 to prohibit the opening of an account to children under 14, but the practical arrangements have not been determined. In Spain, the government also presented a draft bill in June to prohibit access to social networks for those under 16, although the method of age verification has not been determined. There is no scheduled date for review of the text.

China has restricted access for minors since 2021 and requires identification with an identity document. Those under 14 cannot spend more than forty minutes a day on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and online gaming time for children and adolescents is limited.