Australia Proposes Landmark Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16

• Individuals under the age of 16 could be banned from accessing social media in Australia.
• To implement this law, an age-verification system employing biometrics and government ID verification is in sight.
• The proposed legislation aims to safeguard the mental and physical well-being of children.

Australia has unveiled plans to legislate a ban on social media access for individuals under the age of 16 in a groundbreaking move aimed at safeguarding the mental and physical well-being of children. Announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, this initiative addresses growing concerns over the detrimental effects of social media on young users.

The proposed legislation, expected to become law by late 2025, marks a significant step forward in global efforts to protect young people online.

The proposed measures aim to mitigate issues such as harmful body image depictions and misogynistic content. The government is trialing an age-verification system employing biometrics and government ID verification to restrict social media access to those meeting the minimum age requirement. 

Crucially, the responsibility for enforcement will rest with social media platforms, not parents or users. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube will be required to comply with new age verification protocols.

Australia’s approach sets a new global benchmark with the highest age limit for social media access, eschewing parental consent options available in countries like France. While the initiative prioritizes child protection, it has elicited concerns from industry groups like the Digital Industry Group, which warns of potential unintended consequences, such as driving youth to unregulated online spaces.

As Australia prepares for legislative implementation in 2025, its bold stance will undoubtedly serve as a reference point for other nations navigating similar digital safety challenges. 

This move underscores Australia’s commitment to setting a global standard in digital youth protection, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to ensure the safety of young Australians online.

In Ireland, Ryanair faces GDPR scrutiny over customer biometrics ID verification, which affects travelers booking flights through third-party websites or online travel agents (OTAs).