Australia Introduces Bill to Limit Under-16s from Using Social Media

Australia's Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children under 16 from social media, citing online safety as one of parents' toughest challenges. She stated that TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram were among the platforms that could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from having accounts. "The Albanese Government is introducing world-leading legislation to establish 16 as the minimum age for access to social media," Rowlan

Australia's Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children under 16 from social media, citing online safety as one of parents' toughest challenges.

She stated that TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram were among the platforms that could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from having accounts.

"The Albanese Government is introducing world-leading legislation to establish 16 as the minimum age for access to social media," Rowland said in a statement.

"This reform is about protecting young people and letting parents know we've got their backs," she added.

The legislation includes financial penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($32.5 million) for companies found not to have taken "reasonable steps to prevent age-restricted users from having accounts."

X owner Elon Musk warned that Australia intended to go further, posting on his platform: "Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians."

The ban is expected to apply to social media services including TikTok, X, Instagram, and Snapchat, though a list of banned services has not been released.

The legislation has bipartisan support and, if passed, would come into effect in one year.