PUBLISHED : 10 Sep 2024 at 09:45
SYDNEY: In a significant move, Australia announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at banning children from using social media platforms, highlighting concerns over the potential risks to their physical and mental well-being. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that the government will initiate an age verification trial in the coming months.
Albanese emphasized the importance of encouraging children to engage in physical activities rather than spending excessive time on digital devices. “I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields, swimming pools, and tennis courts. We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm,” he stated.
While the specific age limits for the planned ban were not disclosed, Albanese indicated that they are considering ages between 14 and 16. He expressed particular concern regarding the impact of cyberbullying on the mental health of children, as well as their exposure to harmful content through social media platforms.
This initiative follows a recent call from Australia’s eSafety regulator for internet firms to develop an enforceable code to prevent children from accessing pornography and other inappropriate materials, with compliance necessary to avoid imposed regulations.
Efforts to restrict social media use among minors are being observed globally, although legal challenges and technological workarounds, such as virtual private networks, have complicated these initiatives. “This is a global issue that governments are trying to tackle… we know that it’s not simple and it’s not easy; otherwise, solutions would have already been implemented,” Albanese remarked.
