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Australia passed a groundbreaking law last week, banning social media for children under the age of 16, following a heated debate on its impact and effectiveness. The law aims to tackle the growing recognition of social media’s mental health effects on young Australians by limiting their access to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
“Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized. But since its announcement, the law has incited mixed reactions from students, parents, and experts.
Mixed Reactions from Students and Parents
Concerns about its practicality and impact have been raised. Some fear that the restrictions could lead to increased isolation and push young people to the internet’s underground. High school students like Enie Lam acknowledge that social media is often linked to issues like body image problems and cyberbullying. But she argues a total ban could simply push young people to find ways around it.
“It will only create a generation of young people who will be more technologically literate in bypassing these walls. It won’t achieve the desired effects,” Lam said.
Some college students prefer to be cautious observers. Kevin Guo, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics, and economics, expressed his desire to observe how it plays out in Australia before considering similar legislation in other countries. “I think I’d like to wait and see how it works in Australia. You know, I’ve had social media from a young age and don’t think it’s affected me negatively in any way,” Guo said.
Anti-bullying advocates have largely praised the ban as a step in the right direction.
Tech Companies’ Concerns and Expert Opinions
Tech companies are reserved, as the law entails them facing fines of up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance. Meta called for “productive consultation on all rules associated with the Bill” to ensure that the final implementation does not place undue burden on parents and teens. Meanwhile, Snap, which owns Snapchat, noted that there are “many unanswered questions about how this law will be implemented in practice.”
“It’s entirely likely the ban could see young people pushed to darker corners of the internet where no community guidelines, safety tools, or protections exist,” said a spokesperson from TikTok. The video-sharing platform recently banned certain beauty filters due to mental health effects on underage users.
While it did gain support from many Australians, some experts are concerned about the broader implications of the ban. Critics pointed out its unintended consequences, such as pushing young people away from social support networks online. The Australian Human Rights Commission has also warned that the law may infringe on the rights of young people by restricting their ability to participate in society.
As the law moves toward implementation, and enforcement by late 2025, Australia plans to trial which age assurance technologies they use. The country is positioning itself as a global leader in regulating tech companies for the safety of young people. How this ban will shape the landscape of social media use among minors—and whether it will achieve its intended goals—remains to be seen.
