Australia is set to introduce new minimum age limits for children’s access to social media, proposing that children under 14 be banned from using the platforms.
As announced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on September 10, his government plans to introduce a national age limit for access to social media, although an appropriate age limit has not yet been set.
According to a report by High Court Chief Justice Robert French, they want to set the age limit at 14. However, the Prime Minister has said that in his “personal view” the minimum age should be set at 16.
The government is currently awaiting the conclusion of an age verification trial, with the final phase of testing expected to begin shortly. Albanese said an age limit would be set once the trial is complete.
Australia’s social media ban for children explained
The pressure for the ban initially came from South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskaswho tasked French with drafting a bill establishing a minimum age for accessing social media platforms.
UnsplashX (Twitter) will be one of many social media platforms required to implement age verification systems in Australia.
In his report, French proposes a bill that would ban any child under 14 from accessing social media. Children aged 14 or 15 would need parental consent.
The bill requires social media platforms to implement new systems that will prevent minor children from accessing their platforms and obtain parental consent.
The age verification process that Albanese legislation expects was announcement Last May, the measure was aimed only at restricting access to adult content.
In July, the trial has extended its tests The government is also expected to ban children from social media, but it has not yet determined the appropriate minimum age. It has also not specified how the new rules would be enforced.
Albanese said of the ban in his announcement: “I want to see kids get off their devices and onto football pitches, swimming pools and tennis courts, we want them to have real experiences with real people.
“Because we know that social media is bad for society. It’s a scourge and we know that it has consequences on mental health.”
