As social media use among young people reaches unprecedented levels and platforms continuously refine their engagement algorithms, worries over social media addiction are surfacing globally. Australia is now taking a strong stance, planning to restrict social media access for those under 16.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this bold move on Thursday, revealing that legislation to prohibit social media use for minors will be introduced in Parliament during its final 2023 session, set to start on November 18. Should the law pass, social media companies would be granted a 12-month window to establish mechanisms to prevent access by underage users before enforcement begins.
“This is for the parents out there,” Albanese emphasized at a press conference. “Social media is harming our kids, and it’s time to act.”
Albanese outlined that the proposed law would place responsibility directly on social media companies to verify that they are taking reasonable precautions to restrict access for minors—shifting the burden away from parents.
“There will be no penalties imposed on users themselves,” he clarified.
Australia’s decision follows a growing wave of legal actions in the United States aimed at holding TikTok accountable for allegedly addictive practices targeting young users. In October, attorneys general from 14 states filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the platform of profiting at the expense of children’s mental health by using strategies designed to be habit-forming.
One lawsuit in Kentucky revealed internal TikTok documents suggesting that addiction could set in after watching 260 videos, which typically last around 8 seconds each. Kentucky’s officials estimated that this level of exposure—around 35 minutes of usage—could be enough for a child to develop dependency on the app.
Meanwhile, in the UK, lawmakers are addressing the issue differently. A bill introduced in October seeks to prevent social media platforms from using data-harvesting algorithms on users under 16, a measure intended to curb exposure to addictive content for children.
In Australia, Albanese emphasized that social media’s pervasive influence on daily life demands action. He underscored that banning minors from these platforms felt like “the absolutely right choice” for safeguarding youth.
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