Australia is stepping up its efforts to regulate social media use among minors, announcing new legislation aimed at strengthening a ban for individuals under 16. This move follows findings that the initial ban, implemented last December, has had limited success in preventing young Australians from accessing these platforms.
New Legislation Targets Platform Accountability
In September, the Australian Parliament passed amendments to the Cyber Security Act, expanding the enforcement powers of the eSafety Commissioner and increasing penalties for social media platforms that fail to comply with the minimum age restrictions. The updated legislation is designed to compel platforms to enforce their own rules and prevent under-16s from creating accounts.
Further underscoring the government’s commitment, a draft of the Digital Attention Responsibility Act was released in September for public consultation. This proposed law would require internet companies to offer users the option to disable algorithmic content feeds. Crucially, social media platforms that fail to adequately protect young users from harmful content could face fines of up to AUD 109 million (approximately RMB 509 million).
Initial Ban Proves Ineffective
An official regulatory and assessment report released in July revealed that by March, just three months after the ban’s inception, over 80% of Australian teens under 16 had circumvented the restrictions. Common methods included falsifying their age or using accounts belonging to family members and friends, indicating the ban’s limited real-world impact.
Launched in December, the groundbreaking ban prohibited individuals under 16 from using platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube. The eSafety Commissioner’s Office stated that these measures were intended to safeguard minors from the psychological pressures and potential risks associated with social media engagement.
Prime Minister’s Call for Balance
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed young people directly in a video message, acknowledging their unique challenges growing up with algorithms, endless feeds, and the resulting pressures. He encouraged them to “make good use of the upcoming school holidays not scrolling endlessly on your phones.” Instead, he urged them to “take up a new sport, learn a new instrument, or read that book that’s been on your shelf for ages.” The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of spending quality time with friends and family face-to-face.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies
This legislative push follows reports in April that Australian regulators were considering legal action against platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. The platforms faced accusations of failing to effectively prevent underage users from accessing their services, highlighting a persistent challenge in enforcing age-based restrictions online.
