Australian lawmakers have approved a groundbreaking bill that bans children under the age of 16 from joining social media platforms, marking one of the world’s strictest regulations targeting sites like Facebook, Instagram, and X. The legislation, which received bipartisan support, is set to impose stringent accountability measures on social media firms, requiring them to take “reasonable steps” to block young teens from creating accounts.
The bill, which cleared the lower chamber on Wednesday and the Senate late Thursday, is now poised to become law. Non-compliant companies could face penalties of up to AU$50 million (US$32.5 million).
Tech firms have criticized the legislation, calling it “vague,” “rushed,” and “problematic.” They have raised concerns about how the rules will be implemented and their potential impact on users’ privacy and platform operations. Despite these objections, the Australian government has remained firm, citing the need to protect young users from the potential harms of social media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is gearing up for a general election next year, has been a vocal proponent of the bill. Positioning himself as an advocate for families, Albanese urged parents to support the measures, portraying social media as a significant risk to children’s mental health and safety.
“Social media a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators,” Albanese said.
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