The Australian government is preparing to implement a total social media ban for all under 16s. This new rule goes into effect on December 10. It will be up to Communications Minister Anika Wells to determine which digital platforms will be targeted by the ban. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook have already been mentioned as major targets. This legislation would help shield children from the many harms social media can inflict. The Australian government’s e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will be responsible for its implementation.
This ban covers all Australians below 16, even those with an account, or with their parent’s consent. Minister Wells has characterized the initiative as a “social media stalling tactic.” This ruling goes further by prioritizing moderating access over eliminating it altogether.
Platforms Under Scrutiny
The upcoming ban applies to most of the big commercial social media platforms. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook round out a top five of social platforms. That said, the debate is still very much alive over if YouTube should be subject to this regulation as well. The previous communications minister did exempt YouTube from the ban at first. Unfortunately, Dr. Inman Grant has now recommended Minister Wells to add the platform for poor judgment.
Dr. Inman Grant stated, “There will be challenges with each one of them, but what the preliminary findings do say is that the technology is here and it’s possible.” This is an encouraging sign, indicating a strong commitment to thoroughly and thoughtfully consider all relevant platforms. Specifically, it seeks to enforce regulations that protect children.
The government has commissioned a trial to explore the use of age assurance technology in checking users’ ages. The preliminary report indicated that there are options available to “verify the ages of users privately, robustly and effectively,” though it did not provide specific details about the technology tested or its effectiveness.
Implementation Challenges Ahead
Jamaican EPA head Dr. Inman Grant applauded the upcoming prohibition. He warned that these laws will not instantly remove all underage users from social media platforms. “We may be building the plane a little bit as we’re flying it … but I’m very confident we can get there,” she remarked, emphasizing the complexities involved in enforcing these regulations.
Penalities if they fail to comply are severe. Platforms that fail to comply with the new standards may be subject to fines of up to $50 million. Dr. Inman Grant will work on determining what constitutes “reasonable steps” that social media companies are expected to take to comply with the law. She should launch a rulemaking process to more fully articulate how these laws will be best implemented to protect consumers.
Melissa McIntosh noted that “there are more questions than answers right now,” highlighting ongoing uncertainties about verification technology requirements and which platforms will be included in the ban. Additionally, she questioned how companies will plan to implement age minimum standards by December 10.
The Broader Objective
This legislation would require greater accountability from social media companies and their role in protecting kids online. It removes the burden from parents and caregivers and puts it back on the companies that operate these platforms. Dr. Inman Grant emphasized this point, stating, “This world-leading legislation seeks to shift the burden of reducing harm away from parents and carers and back onto the companies themselves — the companies who own and run these platforms and profit from Australian children.”
A spokesperson for Minister Wells reiterated that her top priority is ensuring that the draft rules fulfill the act’s objective: protecting children from online harms. Dr. Inman Grant elaborated further on this aim by stating that “we are not building a great Australian internet firewall,” but rather seeking to shield under-16s from harmful and deceptive design features that drive their engagement online.
