Social media ban for under-16s: New online age law divides tech giants, parents in Australia | Edit
PTC Web Desk: Australia has stepped into uncharted territory by enforcing a nationwide ban on social media access for children below 16 years, becoming the first country to introduce such a sweeping restriction. The decision has set off vigorous debate at home and abroad, as governments, tech experts and parents closely examine the implications of this bold move. The new law, built on concerns over the rising tide of online risks faced by young users, aims to create a safer digital environment at a time when social media platforms have become deeply ingrained in daily life.
Supporters of the ban, including parents’ groups, school associations and child psychologists, argue that children are increasingly exposed to pressures and dangers that they are not emotionally equipped to handle. They point to growing evidence linking social media use with harmful consequences such as cyberbullying, addictive scrolling habits, body-image issues and heightened anxiety. For them, the law is a long-awaited intervention that prioritises the mental and emotional health of minors over the profit-driven motives of technology companies.
However, the policy has also sparked criticism from some of the biggest names in the tech industry, as well as civil liberties organisations. Technology companies insist that age restrictions will be difficult to enforce and could unintentionally push children toward more secretive or unregulated online spaces. Free-speech advocates warn that setting age-based bans may be the beginning of broader governmental control over digital communication and worry that restricting access might prevent teenagers from engaging with educational or creative online communities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strongly defended the government’s stand, saying the legislation demonstrates that lawmakers are capable of responding to new-age challenges faster than before. According to him, the objective is not to police children’s lives but to protect them from a fast-evolving digital landscape where content is often driven by opaque algorithms and commercial interests rather than the wellbeing of young audiences.
The decision is now being followed with keen interest across several countries that are grappling with similar concerns about children and excessive screen exposure. Many governments have launched their own inquiries into youth safety online, and Australia’s law may serve as a blueprint for future regulations around the world. Whether the ban becomes a global trend or remains a uniquely Australian approach, it has undeniably reopened the conversation on how societies should balance child safety, digital rights and corporate accountability in an increasingly connected world.
- With inputs from agencies
