Australia preparing to introduce minimum age for social media

Australia is planning to set a minimum age for children to use social media. The government is concerned that social media platforms affect mental and physical health and incite criminal online activity.

According to statistics from the government and tech industry, Australia has one of the world’s most online populations with more than 80 percent of its 26 million people on social media. A 2023 study from the University of Sydney found that three quarters of all Australians between the age of 12 and 17 have used YouTube or Instagram.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese told ABC that social media companies have a social responsibility. He wants to introduce new legislation by the end of the year. Albanese didn’t say what age kids would have to have to create an account on social media platforms, but he thinks it would be likely between 14 and 16.

But first the prime minister intends to set up an age verification trial.

“We know that it’s not simple and it’s not easy, otherwise governments would have responded before. We’ll look into the experience and we’ll look at the report, but we will also have that legislation before the parliament before the end of the year,” the prime minister states.

After hearing several emotional testimonies during a parliamentary inquiry by parents on what impact social media platforms had on their children, Albanese is more convinced than ever legislation is necessary.

“I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts. We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm,” he says.

According to Albanese, banning mobile phones from schools had a positive impact on social interactions. He expects the same effect from limiting the use of social media.

In June, Australia’s internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, warned that restricting social media access for kids could push them to ‘less regulated non-mainstream services’. Nonetheless, Albanese intends to go ahead as planned.

Reuters points out that the legislation would put Australia among the first countries in the world to impose an age restriction on social media. Similar attempts in Europe have failed, because concerned experts and parents voiced complaints about reducing the online rights of minors.