The risk and potential harms associated with excessive social media browsing—including the physical effects of engaging in substantial screen time, the emotional risks associated with unrealistic beauty and lifestyle standards, and the threats created by cyberbullying—are increasingly well-established and worrisome. They represent compelling calls to action for parents and societies worried about the well-being of children and adolescents, who are at particular risk of suffering such harms. 

In response, Australia has banned social media for any users younger than 16 years of age. To implement this unprecedented ban, Australia is experimenting with a novel approach too: The legislation places the responsibility for enforcing the ban on technology companies. Specifically, it requires social media platforms to engage in “good-faith efforts” to keep young users away. Although the legislation does not define such efforts explicitly, it specifies the exorbitant fines that companies that fail to comply will be forced to pay—equivalent to about US$32 million.

In announcing the new rules, Australia’s government was quick to emphasize that neither children who find ways around the prohibitions nor their guardians will be punished. The legal measures are designed expressly to curb the problem at the source, similar to age restrictions on purchases of tobacco or alcohol.

The law does not specify precisely which companies will be subject to the mandates either, though most reports indicate that Meta, X, Snapchat, and TikTok all will be held accountable for meeting the new guidelines. In contrast, observers predict that messaging platforms like WhatsApp, as well as platforms that provide publicly available content, such as YouTube, likely will be exempt.

Although it is new to the Australian continent, the ban is not completely without precedent in other localities. France requires guardians’ consent for children younger than 15 years to create social media accounts. Its government also has advocated for a similar ban to extend throughout the European Union, as well as suggested the need for international agreement that defines a digital age of majority. In the United States, Florida became the first state to ban children under the age of 14 years and require consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to use social media. These measures currently are being challenged in court though; detractors argue that they rules violate the First Amendment.

Still, even recognizing the stirrings of a global movement, Australia’s measure represents perhaps the strictest version thus far adopted. Surveys of residents suggest that a majority of Australians support the policy change, though of course there is some dissention. Opponents raise concerns about privacy and caution about the potential slippery slope toward state-sanctioned surveillance systems. Representatives of various tech companies also have highlighted the uncertainty surrounding how the ban can and should be implemented. 

In response to such uncertainty, the Australian Government agreed to enact a year-long rollout, scheduled to last until mid-December 2025. During this time, it hopes to use real-world evidence to establish and outline more concrete requirements for compliance. Furthermore, it has promised that official identification will not be required as part of the age verification process.

Perhaps the most compelling concerns though come from youth advocates. Even as they acknowledge the potential harms created by children’s excessive use of social media, they also note the reasonable fear that the regulations excessively infringe on these young users’ autonomy, by making decisions for them. Children already represent a vulnerable consumer group, and they also include particularly at-risk cohorts who might turn to social media as a primary source of comfort, support, and inclusivity.

Discussion Questions

1. Do such restrictions infringe on the rights of young consumers? Could similar legislation be passed in the United States, realistically?
2. Do the benefits of protecting children outweigh the risks of constraining their access to valuable sources of information or support?

Sources: Byron Kaye and Praveen Menon, “Australia Passes Social Media Ban for Children Under 16,” Reuters, November 29, 2024; Hannah Ritchie, “Australia Approves Social Media Ban on Under-16s,” BBC, November 28, 2024; Victoria Kim, “Australia Has Barred Everyone Under 16 From Social Media. Will It Work?” The New York Times, November 28, 2024