Australia is moving closer to banning social media for children under 16 after the country’s House of Representatives passed a bill with overwhelming support, 102 votes to 13. The bill, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government, aims to protect the physical and mental health of children by limiting social media use. Albanese, aiming to boost his approval ratings ahead of the May election, has emphasized the risks posed by excessive social media use. The Senate is expected to debate the bill later, with the government aiming for its passage by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
The bill requires social media platforms to implement age-verification systems, which could include biometrics or government IDs, with fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for breaches. While some youth advocates and the Australian human rights commission have raised concerns over the law’s impact on children’s rights to self-expression, a YouGov survey revealed 77% of Australians support the ban, up from 61% in August.
A Senate committee supported the bill but included a provision to prevent platforms from requiring users to submit sensitive data like passports for age verification. The committee recommended that platforms use alternative methods for verifying age and ensure reasonable steps are taken. It also called for a progress report on the age-assurance trial by September 2025 and urged the government to engage with young people while framing the law. This bill represents some of the toughest social media controls implemented globally.
Also read: Advocate Calls for Delay in Child Social Media Ban Legislation in Australia
