Australia banning social media from those under 16 years old

Australia banning social media from those under 16 years old is in the works. The Australian government will introduce this “world-leading” legislation in parliament this month.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conducted a speech about this issue. He explained how the restriction aims to mitigate the harm caused by social media to children in the country.

Further, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland clarified that there would be no penalties for underaged users and their parents. If children and young teens managed to get access to social media, it would be alright. However, it is up to the eSafety Commissioner to enforce the law.

The penalties would instead fall on social media platforms that don’t follow the upcoming protocol. This could affect tech companies like Meta, Bytedance, etc.

Regulation of social media has sparked an interest on how it should be properly handled. This is mainly due to the potential harm that social media could bring to children’s mental health.

Aside from Australia, other countries have attempted restricting social media access to a certain degree. This includes a user’s parental consent for certain ages and limited time on the apps.

While the youth are susceptible to the dangers of social media, their exposure to it is only delayed. Suffice it to say, teaching teenagers about digital literacy and navigating the online space certainly helps.

What do you guys feel about Australia banning social media? Should we also consider it in the Philippines? Let us know what you think!