Social Media Under Siege: Australia’s Shocking Plan to Pull the Plug

Australia wants to limit the use of social media for children and young people with a new law. It is not yet clear exactly how this will work.

Australia wants to ban the use of online networks by children under 16 by law. “This is for the mothers and fathers. Social media is doing real harm to children and I’m putting an end to it,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Thursday. The responsibility for ensuring the minimum age of users will fall on the technology giants and internet platforms, but not on parents who are concerned about the safety of their children online, continued Albanese.

The responsibility “will not be on the parents or the young people,” the head of government explained. msgstr “There will be no penalties for users.” New legislation to this effect will be presented to heads of state and territory this week and presented to parliament at the end of November.

Albanese had previously considered an age limit for online networks, but this was the first time he had given a specific age. Previous proposals received broad, bipartisan support in Australia.

“This legislation is unique in the world,” said Albanese, praising the legislative project, “and we want to make sure it works.” The Australian government is still grappling with the exact legal and technological requirements for enforcing the measure. “We assume of course that there will be some exceptions so that there will be no undesirable side effects. But we are convinced that this is the right course of action.”

Some social media already have an access restriction of 14 years, but such digital barriers are easy to overcome, for example by creating fake accounts, ie profiles with fake data. It is not yet clear which platforms will be affected by the ban. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube were “very likely” to be included, according to broadcaster ABC.

Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that there is great concern for the mental health of children and young people. “I have spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Like me, they are extremely concerned about the safety of our children online.” That’s why he wants to use the new law to create a basis for legal guardians so they can say to their wards in the future: “I’m sorry, friend, but I can’t allow you to do that because it’s been prohibited.”