AUSTRALIA: The legislation, set to be introduced this year, will come into force 12 months after approval by parliament, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Under the proposed law, popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) will be required to prevent access to users under 16.
Unlike other countries’ policies, Australia’s legislation will offer no exemptions for children with parental consent. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland clarified that platforms owned by companies like Meta (Facebook and Instagram), ByteDance (TikTok), and Alphabet (YouTube) are expected to comply with the strict regulations, marking a significant shift in social media policy on a global scale.
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Australia’s bold stance follows similar efforts worldwide, including France’s proposed ban for children under 15 and the United States’ long-standing requirement for parental consent for users under 13. However, Australia’s outright prohibition for minors under 16 is seen as one of the toughest yet.
