Australia Enacts Legislation Banning Social Media Use for Under 16s Amid Strong Opposition from Platforms

In a pioneering move aimed at mitigating the potential impact of social media on children and teenagers, Australia has introduced legislation that prohibits the use of social media by individuals under the age of 16, even with parental or guardian permission.

This new legislation effectively raises the minimum age for social media usage by three years, from previously under 13—a restriction mirrored globally—to now under 16.

Despite the global norm of teenagers over the age of 13 engaging with social media, including younger children accessing platforms through borrowed identities, social media remains a primary source of information for this demographic.

The proposal to legislate against social media usage for those under 16 has sparked significant debate within Australia. The bill swiftly passed through the House of Representatives, making the enactment of this law a matter of when, not if.

Meta, the social media giant, expressed strong dissatisfaction, arguing that the Australian government failed to adequately consider evidence and the voices of the youth. A Meta spokesperson highlighted concerns over the rushed legislative process, which, according to them, overlooks existing industry measures to ensure age-appropriate experiences and the opinions of young users.

TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has called for closer collaboration between the Australian government and the industry to address issues arising from the hastened process. Snapchat also voiced concerns over many unresolved issues concerning the law's implementation.

The opposition from these platforms is expected, as a significant portion of their user base comprises teenagers. The legislation is anticipated to lead to a decline in new and active users on these platforms.

Under the new law, companies that fail to comply and allow social media services to users under the age of 16 could face fines up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately 32.5 million U.S. dollars).

The debate over social media's impact on the mental health of teenagers is long-standing. In January 2023, a school in Seattle, USA, sued social media companies for causing a mental health crisis among children.

However, a study released in November 2023, involving data from over two million individuals, refuted these claims. This research, focusing on the impact of the internet, smartphones, and apps on mental health, found no conclusive evidence that their use adversely affects mental health.