Australia Passes Landmark Law Banning Social Media for Children Under 16
Australia has passed a law to ban social media use for children under 16, setting one of the toughest global standards on social media regulation. The law, which will take effect in November 2025, mandates social media platforms to implement robust age-verification measures. Following heated debates, the law received bipartisan support in Parliament, with the Senate approving it after the House of Representatives passed it earlier.
The law is designed to protect children’s physical and mental health, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasizing the risks posed by social media. Companies that fail to comply could face fines up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). The government plans a trial of age-verification methods, including biometrics, by mid-2025.
Tech giants like Google, Meta, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) have raised concerns, urging delays or further consultation, while a Senate committee included provisions to prevent the mandatory submission of sensitive personal data for age verification.