Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the country’s new social media law, banning children under 16 from using major platforms, will come into effect on December 10.
The legislation, titled the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, was passed to protect children’s well-being and strengthen parental control. Described by Albanese as a “world-leading social media law,” it aims to create a safer online environment for young users.
“Today is exactly one month until our world-leading social media laws come into effect. This is about letting kids be kids. It’s also about empowering parents to be able to have those discussions with their children,” Albanese said in a video shared on November 10.
The new law prohibits children under 16 from using social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, and Kick. Social media companies are required to “take reasonable steps” to ensure underage users cannot create accounts on their platforms.
Currently, most platforms allow users aged 13 and above to join with parental consent. However, enforcement has often been weak, allowing many preteens to access these sites. A Johns Hopkins Medicine study found that around 40% of children aged 8 to 12 in the United States use social media, highlighting the challenge of age verification online.
Research has increasingly linked early exposure to social media with negative mental health outcomes among children, including anxiety and low self-esteem. However, experts also note benefits such as easier access to information and improved help-seeking behaviour.
Following Australia’s move, several countries including Denmark and Norway are also considering similar restrictions for children under 15 to reduce the risks associated with early social media use.
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