https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/australia-proposes-ban-social-media-those-under-16-2024-11-06/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + Ukraine and Russia at War + United Kingdom + United States + Reuters NEXT * US Election * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth + Macro Matters * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact + COP29 * Legal Browse Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court * Breakingviews Browse Breakingviews + Breakingviews Predictions * Technology Browse Technology + Artificial Intelligence + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted * More InvestigationsSports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis ScienceLifestyleGraphicsPictures Wider ImagePodcastsFact CheckLiveVideoSponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Press Releases My News Register * Cybersecurity Australia proposes 'world-leading' ban on social media for children under 16 By Alasdair Pal and Byron Kaye November 7, 20246:12 AM UTCUpdated ago * * * * * * * * * Summary * Companies * Ban on under 16s accessing Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X * Govt cites risks to mental and physical health * Ban could start as soon as next year SYDNEY, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The Australian government will legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday, in what it calls a world-leading package of measures that could become law late next year. Australia is trialing an age-verification system to assist in blocking children from accessing social media platforms, as part of a range of measures that include some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date. "Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," Albanese told a news conference. Albanese cited the risks to physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image, and misogynist content aimed at boys. "If you're a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you're going through life's changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time and what we're doing is listening and then acting," he said. A number of countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, though Australia's policy is one of the most stringent. No jurisdiction so far has tried using age verification methods like biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, two of the methods being trialed. Australia's other world-first proposals are the highest age limit set by any country, no exemption for parental consent and no exemption for pre-existing accounts. Legislation will be introduced into the Australian parliament this year, with the laws coming into effect 12 months after being ratified by lawmakers, Albanese said. The opposition Liberal Party has expressed support for a ban. Tourists take photographs with their mobile phones in front of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney Illustration shows Facebook app logo Illustration shows TikTok logo Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Item 1 of 4 Tourists take photographs with their mobile phones in front of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, October 14, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo [1/4]Tourists take photographs with their mobile phones in front of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, October 14, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab There will be no exemptions for children who have parental consent, or who already have accounts. "The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access," Albanese said. "The onus won't be on parents or young people." "What we are announcing here and what we will legislate will be truly world leading," Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said. Rowland said platforms impacted would include Meta Platforms' (META.O), opens new tab Instagram and Facebook, as well as Bytedance's TikTok and Elon Musk's X. Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab YouTube would likely also fall within the scope of the legislation, she added. TikTok declined to comment, while Meta, Alphabet and X did not respond to requests for comment. The Digital Industry Group, a representative body which includes Meta, TikTok, X and Alphabet's Google as members, said the measure could encourage young people to explore darker, unregulated parts of the internet while cutting their access to support networks. "Keeping young people safe online is a top priority ... but the proposed ban for teenagers to access digital platforms is a 20th Century response to 21st Century challenges," said DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose. "Rather than blocking access through bans, we need to take a balanced approach to create age-appropriate spaces, build digital literacy and protect young people from online harm," she added. France last year proposed a ban on social media for those under 15, though users were able to avoid the ban with parental consent. The United States has for decades required technology companies to seek parental consent to access the data of children under 13, leading to most social media platforms banning those under that age from accessing their services. Sign up here. Reporting by Alasdair Pal and Byron Kaye in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * * * * * Purchase Licensing Rights [793c216f-b] Alasdair Pal Thomson Reuters Alasdair leads the team covering breaking news in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Before moving to Sydney, he covered general news in New Delhi, where he reported from the front-line of the coronavirus pandemic in India and the insurgency in Kashmir, as well as extended periods in Pakistan and, most recently, in Sri Lanka covering its ongoing economic crisis. His reporting on Islamic State suicide bombings in Sri Lanka in 2019 was highly commended as the Society of Publishers in Asia awards. He previously worked as a financial reporter in London, with a particular interest in hedge funds and accounting frauds. 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