Australia Turns Around: Historic Law Approved: Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Australia has decided to declare war on the use of social media by teenagers under 16. The Parliament in Canberra has approved one of the most stringent bills in the world, aimed at protecting young people from "potential damage" linked to the use of digital platforms.

The measure, which affects giants such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, requires technology companies to prevent minors from registering, with fines of up to $30 million for those who do not comply with the new rules. Platforms such as WhatsApp and YouTube, considered useful tools for educational purposes, will not be affected, but the government will publish the definitive list of banned sites once the law comes into force, in about 12 months.

The bill's approval has sparked mixed reactions. While 77% of Australians, according to a YouGov poll, support the ban, some fear the measure could be ineffective. Some experts warn that tools like VPNs, capable of masking users' locations, could easily circumvent the controls. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, expressed concern about the speed with which the law was passed: “We respect Australian laws, but are concerned that the evidence on what the industry has already done to ensure safe experiences for different ages has not been adequately considered.”, a spokesperson said.

X owner Elon Musk also joined the critics, raising doubts about the enforceability of the new rules. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese staunchly defended the new legislation, calling it a necessary response to a global crisis: “We want young people to live their childhood to the fullest, without the pressures and risks associated with social media”, he has declared.

A Global Trend: The World Looks to Australia

With the move, Australia becomes the first country at government level to ban social media for those under 16, but the issue is already at the center of debate in other nations. In the United States, several states, including New York and Florida, are introducing restrictions for minors. Spain and France are considering similar measures, while the China has already adopted a document-based identification system and limits the use of Douyin (the local version of TikTok) to 40 minutes a day for those under 14.