Brisbane: Australia’s government has announced plans to impose multimillion-dollar fines on social media platforms that fail to enforce a new ban on children under 16 accessing their services.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland unveiled the proposed amendment to the Online Safety Act on Thursday, calling it a “world-leading social media reform” aimed at protecting young people online.
The proposed legislation sets the minimum age for social media access at 16 and includes financial penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars (about $32.5 million) for companies that don’t take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage users from joining.
Social media giants like TikTok, Instagram, X, and Snapchat would be affected by the new rules, though a full list of platforms has yet to be released. The legislation, which enjoys bipartisan support, is expected to come into force within a year.
Rowland emphasized that the responsibility would fall on tech companies, not parents, to ensure online safety for children.
“This change is tied in with supporting a more secure and better web-based climate for youthful Australians,” she said.
The bill is in response to increasing concerns over online bullying and mental health risks, particularly following high-profile cases of youth suicide linked to social media abuse. Many parents and child safety advocates have welcomed the proposal, seeing it as an overdue move to hold tech companies accountable.
However, some critics argue that the ban could isolate teenagers from vital support networks and may create new risks for those who circumvent the restrictions.
In addition, the Australian government is working with the UK’s Age Check Certification Scheme to test age verification technologies to help enforce the new rules. They’ve also proposed a “digital duty of care” for social media companies to ensure user safety and prevent online harm.
