Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday a plan to ban children from accessing social media. The government is set to introduce legislation in 2024 to establish a minimum age for using social media and other digital platforms, according to a report by Xinhua news agency.
“Social media is causing social harm, pulling kids away from genuine friendships and real-life experiences,” Albanese stated.
The proposed legislation will be shaped by consultations with states and territories, with Albanese favoring a minimum age of 16 for social media access.
A poll by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in August revealed that 61% of Australians support limiting social media access to individuals under 17 years old.
Meanwhile, Peter Malinauskas, the Premier of South Australia, has appointed former federal judge Robert French to investigate legal avenues to prohibit children under 14 from using social media. The federal government plans to take French’s review into account when drafting the new legislation.
