Australia’s groundbreaking prohibition on social media for users under 16 has attracted global attention. The new stringent regulation is designed to shield Australian children and teens from addictive social platforms and harmful online content.
Effective December 10, the Australian government has listed platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Reddit, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), and Kick for deactivation or removal of accounts belonging to users in the specified age group. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged that 86% of Australian kids aged 8 to 15 are active on social media, admitting that the implementation might face initial challenges.
Albanese emphasized the clarity of the law’s message, drawing parallels to setting the legal drinking age at 18. The social media ban coincides with the upcoming summer break, raising concerns among young Australians about losing vital connections with friends and community support, especially for those in remote areas.
Some young users are already finding ways to circumvent the ban, such as using filters to disguise their age or migrating to alternative platforms like Lemon8 and Yope. The Australian government has cautioned that additional tech companies could be targeted in the future, with fines of up to approximately $45.4 million for non-compliance. Monitoring and enforcement will be overseen by Australia’s eSafety Commission.
While Australia’s move is considered one of the strictest measures globally, other countries like Malaysia, Denmark, France, and the UK are either implementing similar bans or strengthening regulations for social platforms. Canada’s Online Harms Act, Bill C-63, was stalled but new legislation targeting online exploitation of children is expected before year-end.
Tech journalist Takara Small emphasized the need for comprehensive approaches involving governments, educators, parents, and tech companies to address social media risks beyond bans. The ban rollout in Australia has sparked discussions in Canada, with parents and youth expressing mixed views on potential social media restrictions for younger users.
Vancouver parent Jenny Perez, founder of Unplugged Canada, lauded Australia’s initiative and urged the Canadian government to follow suit in safeguarding children online. Montreal student Quentyn Archer highlighted the prevalence of screen time among youth and suggested limiting social media hours as a beneficial measure for younger users.