Australia's Social Media Ban For Under 16s Becomes Law

Australia has enacted legislation prohibiting individuals under 16 from using major social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The aim is to mitigate mental health concerns and misinformation risks among young people, but the enforcement and practicality of the ban are uncertain. Tech companies face substantial fines if they fail to achieve near-perfect compliance with the ban, which is slated to take effect in approximately a year.

Social Media Ban

• 00:00:00 Australia has implemented a ban on social media platforms for individuals under 16 years of age, impacting platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The government's rationale for this ban centers on safeguarding children's mental well-being and addressing the spread of misinformation online. The legislation will impose fines of up to $32 million on social media companies that fail to effectively enforce it.

Enforcement & Scrutiny

• 00:00:14 The enforceability of this ban presents a significant challenge for social media platforms, requiring them to achieve nearly 100% compliance. The legislation has faced criticism for being rushed through parliament with insufficient scrutiny, leading to objections from some lawmakers and technology companies who deem it unlawful and unworkable. Despite these concerns, public support for the ban is relatively high, with over 75% of Australian voters expressing their favor.