On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his social media accounts to announce his government’s intention to set a minimum age for using social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
This proposed measure aims to mitigate online risks for children. “It’s about supporting parents and keeping kids safe,” Mr. Albanese stated in a post.
The government is currently considering setting the minimum age at 16, although another possibility being discussed is a lower limit, potentially as young as 14, Mr. Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday. Legislation is expected to be introduced later this year, along with trials of age-verification technology.
Should Australia implement this law, it would join a small group of countries restricting social media access for younger users. Earlier this year, Florida implemented a ban on social media use for children under 14.
Typically, platforms such as Instagram, Facebook (owned by Meta), and TikTok require users to be at least 13 to create an account. However, millions of underage users have circumvented these requirements by providing false dates of birth.
There is considerable political support in Australia for imposing age limits on social media.
Minimum Age Restriction For Social Media in Australia (Photo: Getty Images)
The main opposition party has expressed its desire to restrict social media access to individuals aged 16 and older. Nonetheless, some experts caution that such measures might have unintended consequences.
Daniel Angus, director of the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology, warned, “Banning some social media platforms like Meta or TikTok would drive audiences to other platforms that are less regulated and less safe.”
Toby Murray, an associate professor of computing and information systems at the University of Melbourne, highlighted that social media often provides young teens with a sense of community.
He argued that denying them access might isolate young users, particularly those from marginalized groups, from finding supportive networks.
Mr. Albanese emphasized that reducing online time could benefit children’s well-being.
“I want kids to have a childhood. I want them off their devices and onto the footy field and onto the netball courts,” he said in a video, referring to popular sports in Australia.
In 2021, Australia introduced groundbreaking regulations that compelled major internet companies like Google and Facebook to enter into licensing agreements with news publishers.
