Australia takes steps toward banning social media for children

Australia took a significant step towards banning social media for children under 16 on Wednesday, as the lower house of parliament passed the bill despite objections from tech giants like Google and Meta, which urged the government to delay the legislation.

The House of Representatives approved the bill with a vote of 102 to 13, after securing bipartisan support from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government. The bill is expected to be debated in the Senate later on Wednesday, with the government aiming to ensure its passage by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Prime Minister Albanese, who is seeking to boost his approval ratings ahead of an expected May election, has argued that excessive social media use harms children’s physical and mental health and has called for parental backing. Major media outlets, including News Corp, have supported the ban.

However, some youth advocacy groups, including Australia’s Human Rights Commission, have raised concerns about the impact on children’s rights to self-expression. Nevertheless, a recent YouGov survey indicated that 77% of Australians support the ban, up from 61% in an August survey.

The proposed law would require social media companies to implement age-verification measures, with fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for serious violations. Australia plans to trial an age-verification system, potentially involving biometrics or government IDs, making it one of the most stringent social media controls in the world.

On Tuesday, a Senate committee approved the bill but added a condition that social media platforms should not require users to submit personal data, such as passports or digital identification, to verify their age. The committee also recommended that platforms offer alternative methods of age verification and that the government consult with young people when developing the law.

Google and Meta have argued that the ban should be delayed until the age-verification trial concludes, while TikTok has called for more consultation on the bill. Some opposition and independent lawmakers have criticized the government for rushing the legislation, as the bill was introduced just last Thursday, with public submissions closing the following day and a brief hearing held on Monday.