Written by: Haim Ravia, and Dotan Hammer
The Australian parliament has enacted “’world-leading” legislation introduced by the government which bans children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and others. According to lawmakers in Australia, the law will mitigate the harm social media poses to children.
The law will introduce the ban in late 2025. Social media platforms will be required to implement reasonable measures to block access for minors based on an age-verification system based on government identification. Parental consent will not override the restriction. Enforcement will fall under the purview of the eSafety Commissioner which may issue fines of up to 50 million Australian Dollars against platforms found to be systematically breaching the ban. The law has no provisions penalizing individual users. It is intended to hold the social media platform accountable for its “social responsibility”.
The law has sparked mixed reactions. Some critics describe the measure as “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively”. Those critics advocated for robust safety standards on social media platforms, ensuring children can benefit from digital engagement in a safer environment. Proponents of the law argue that children under 16 are ill-equipped to safely navigate social media platforms and that excessive use negatively impacts their development and may contribute to mental health issues.
Click here to access the full text of the law.
