We all know how children today spend much of their time glued to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. In response to growing concerns, the Australian government is planning to introduce a minimum age limit for children on social media, potentially as high as 16 years old. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement, saying the goal is to get kids off their devices and “onto the footy fields”.
Federal legislation to enforce this age restriction will be introduced later this year. While the exact age limit hasn’t been confirmed yet, it is expected to be set between 14 and 16 years old, with Albanese leaning towards the higher limit. “I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts,” he told national broadcaster ABC (via South China Morning Post. He also emphasised the importance of encouraging kids to have “real experiences with real people.”
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Albanese also raised concerns about the negative impact of social media on young people, calling it a “scourge” that leads to mental health issues. “We know that there are mental health consequences for what many young people have had to deal with,” he added.
Australia’s conservative opposition leader, Peter Dutton, expressed support for the government’s plan, highlighting the risks social media poses to children. However, experts are unsure how enforceable these restrictions will be. Toby Murray, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne, pointed out that current age verification methods are “unreliable” and could threaten user privacy.
Others worry about the broader implications of such a ban. Daniel Angus, a digital media researcher, warned that cutting off access to social media might prevent young people from engaging in healthy online spaces. Samantha Schulz, a sociologist, stressed that the real issue lies with the social media platforms themselves and their failure to take responsibility for the content they host.
In the meantime, trials for age verification systems will be held over the coming months.