Australia plans to ban children from social media over mental and physical health concerns

On Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced plans to limit children's access to social media and digital platforms until they meet a minimum age. Albanese said the proposed age limit will likely be between 14 and 16, though he prefers 16. 

The Australian government plans to introduce uniform laws across states. This follows South Australia's proposed social media safety bill that would prevent children under 14 from using social media.

Already, the federal government is testing age verification methods. It is launching a $6.5 million trial to test a system that blocks access to porn sites and restricts young users from social media. Albanese said the test “will identify available age assurance products to protect children from online harm, and test their efficacy, including in relation to privacy and security.”

Addressing physical and mental health concerns

The new restrictions seek to improve online safety for younger users. It aims to protect their physical and mental health, following a parliamentary inquiry that found that social media causes significant distress among young children.

Albanese explained that children should engage in other activities rather than spending excessive time on electronic devices. “I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields, the swimming pools, and the tennis courts,” Albanese said.

He further emphasized the importance of children having real-life experiences. “We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm,” he stated. 

Australia's new law would make it one of the first countries to impose an age restriction on social media. Previous efforts by the European Union have failed due to concerns about limiting minors' online rights.

Concerns about the decision

The decision to impose a ban on children has raised concerns that enforcing age restrictions might push children to conceal their online activity, which could result in riskier behavior. 

As per Reuters, the Director of the Queensland University of Technology Digital Media Research Centre, Daniel Angus, explained that the decision could harm young people by keeping them out of valuable online spaces and pushing them towards lower-quality ones.

In June, Australia's eSafety Commissioner warned that restrictions could limit young people's access to vital support. They might then turn to less regulated, alternative services.