Australia leads with pioneering social media restrictions for teens

Australia has become the first country globally to introduce a ban on social media use by children under 16. The bill was passed in the Senate with 34 votes in favour and 19 against, having already been approved by the House of Representatives, where 102 members supported it and 13 opposed it.

The new law imposes strict penalties on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or X that fail to comply with the ban. The fine for non-compliance can be as much as approximately £26 million. Platforms have one year to develop a user age verification system, with testing of enforcement methods starting in January.

Australian politicians argue that the decision to introduce the ban stems from the negative impact of social media on the mental health of young people. In countries like France or certain states in the USA, restrictions on minors' access have already been implemented, but the Australian law is the most stringent of these.

The new regulations have faced criticism from young people and researchers, who warn that the ban may isolate young people, including those from the LGBTQIA community and teenage migrants, from online support groups. The Australian Human Rights Commission has raised concerns that the law could infringe on the rights of young people by restricting their ability to participate in social life.

According to surveys cited by the Reuters, as many as 77% of Australians support the introduction of the ban. However, the enacted ban may pose potential issues. A case in point is Florida, which introduced a ban on social media use for those under 14 in March of this year; this law is currently being contested in court. Opponents argue that this measure violates freedom of speech.

Many experts suggest that a more effective solution than imposing bans is educating young people on how to navigate the digital world safely.