Australian lawmakers advanced towards prohibiting social media access for those under 16 on Wednesday, imposing potential multimillion-dollar penalties on companies that do not comply.
The lower house of parliament approved the landmark legislation on Wednesday, and the Senate will now review it.
These new regulations would require platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young teens from creating accounts.
Social media companies, which could incur fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for not enforcing the ban, have criticised the laws as “vague,” “problematic,” and “rushed.”
Centre-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strongly supported the ban and called on Australian parents to back the initiative as he prepares for an election early next year. In the lead-up to Wednesday’s vote, he described social media as “a platform for peer pressure, a source of anxiety, a medium for scammers, and, most concerning, a tool for online predators.”
He expressed a desire for young Australians to spend less time on their phones and more time participating in sports like football and cricket and activities such as tennis, netball, and swimming.
On the surface, the ban appears to be among the most stringent in the world. However, the current legislation lacks specific guidance on enforcing the rules. Regulators will need at least 12 months to finalise the details before the ban becomes effective.
Numerous experts doubt the ban can be practically implemented, noting that many age restrictions can be easily bypassed. Recent amendments specifically prohibit social media companies from asking new users to provide government-issued identification to verify their age.
The ban may face legal challenges.
Certain companies, such as WhatsApp and YouTube, might receive exemptions, which teenagers might need for leisure, educational, or other purposes.
LinkedIn, a business-oriented platform, is also seeking an exemption, arguing that its content is too dull to attract users under 16.
