Date:
November 27, 2024
An Australian Senate has backed the Prime Minister’s recent proposal to ban social media platforms for all children under 16 without exceptions.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently proposed a game-changing bill to help children under the age of 16 improve digital exposure quality during their critical growth phase. The move aims to ban social media platforms for all children under 16 without any exceptions. The Australian Senate has backed this move, further strengthening support to get approval in the upcoming hearing.
While the Senate showed direct support, it has clearly emphasized the importance of not forcing users to share their personal information with social media platforms for age verification. The trial of a new age verification system has to find ways to identify underage users through scrutiny of those who are above 16 years of age.
The Center-Left Labor Government of Albanese is rushing to pass the bill as it currently has unmatched support from the opposition Liberal party. According to sources, Albanese is trying to get the bill in action by the end of the Parliamentary year.
In a public report published on Thursday, the environment and communications legislation committee said that social media platforms “must set out alternative methods for assuring age as reasonable steps with consideration given to the age assurance trial.”
The Senate has demanded a progress report on the age assurance trial submitted by 30th September 2025 to the Parliament from the communications minister. The keyword in focus is to ‘meaningfully engage’ with the youth while framing the details of the new law.
“Young people, and in particular diverse cohorts, must be at the center of the conversation as an age restriction is implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection,” said committee Chair Senator Karen Grogan.
According to the report, companies that do not comply with the new law may face fines of up to $49.5 million ($32 million). Some independent lawmakers have criticized the pace at which the bill is being approved. The bill that was introduced last Thursday closed on submissions by Friday, and a brief hearing will be held on Monday. The timelines are being criticized as not enough to judge the intricacies of the new bill.
Until the age verification trial finishes, social media giants like Google and Meta have urged to hold the social media ban as it may cause unprecedented loss of revenue and inaccessibility inconvenience to existing users in Australia.
