Australia to Propose Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 to Protect Mental Health

[Social Media]

 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a plan to introduce legislation that would ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, a measure aimed at protecting the mental health of young Australians. Albanese stated on Thursday that the government would hold social media companies responsible for enforcing the restriction, while children and their parents would not face penalties if they were found to be in violation. “Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it,” Albanese declared, adding, “I want parents to be able to say: ‘Sorry, mate, it’s against the law.’”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to introduce world first social media age restrictions. Reporter @ijmullen has more.

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While the proposed law has garnered support from various stakeholders, the government has yet to reveal essential details, such as the technology that would be used to enforce the ban, the exact penalties for social media companies that breach the rule, and any potential exemptions. This announcement follows a September declaration by the federal government that it intended to limit teen access to platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. The proposal has gained momentum, fueled by support from opposition leaders, media outlets, and child safety advocates.

 

Prime Minister Albanese disclosed that the cabinet had agreed on 16 as the minimum age for social media use. This threshold is stricter than the 14-year-old age limit proposed by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. Albanese has scheduled a national cabinet meeting with premiers and chief ministers to discuss a unified age restriction, with legislation anticipated next year.

 

Albanese emphasized that concerns over youth social media use have become the “number one discussion” among parents. He acknowledged that the policy may not be flawless, comparing it to existing underage drinking laws that, while not foolproof, provide a protective framework. “We don’t pretend that you can get a 100 per cent outcome here,” he remarked, arguing that the ban is a worthwhile pursuit even if some young people manage to circumvent it.

 

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland described the proposed ban as “world-leading,” highlighting that no other country has enacted similar regulations. If implemented, Australia would pioneer this type of social media restriction, which reflects the government’s commitment to tackling the complexities of youth mental health in the digital age.

 

Based on a report by Sydney Herald 2024-11-08

 

 

 

[Emdog]

Amen to that.... now if they can come up with some sort of rehab for adult addicts

[Purdey]

Stupid old people never learn.

Have they forgotten about kids (illegally) smoking behind the bike sheds when they were young?

Make something illegal and it develops a desirous appeal to kids.

Leave parenting up to parents. Or are the parents the problem?

[BoganInParasite]

Silly me thinking the government might be better focused on fixing the housing crisis, or providing relief to the high cost of living, or maybe the environment, etc.

[transam]

Hmmm, they found out about 'bignok'................

[JonnyF]

Typical of a leftist government. 

 

They think they have a right to parent other people's children. 

 

Or perhaps they are feeling threatened by the free speech on X since Musk bought it and prefer Ardern's approach - "Unless you hear it from us it is not true, the government shall be your single source of truth". 

 

I wonder how long before they want to ban social media for adults as well. For our own good, of course. Perhaps they could make reading The Guardian mandatory as well?

[koolkarl]

Taken a long time for that government to wake up.  As far as I am concerned, the net does more harm than good,

so it wouldn't bother me if they shut the whole thing down.