It can be brought to attention that Australia is about to make a special change in digital regulation by banning social media use for individuals under 16. This ban is set to start in December. Moreover, the law aims to address growing worries about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health and well-being. This initiative has drawn attention from governments and tech firms around the world, all eager to see how Australia handles this new challenge.
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, has advised social media companies to use their existing data to accurately guess a user’s age instead of implementing universal age-verification checks. She pointed out that these companies already excel at targeting users for ads with “deadly precision.” According to Grant, age verification should also leverage this skill.
The new law, passed in November last year, offers companies a one-year grace period to adjust. It should be highlighted that they must deactivate accounts for underage users by December 10. Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized that the government is serious, stating there is “no excuse for non-compliance.” She described the government as “polic[ing] the sharks” in the digital world, referring to holding well-resourced and advanced companies accountable. It can be mentioned that Wells urged these companies to take “reasonable steps” to identify and deactivate underage accounts, prevent re-registration, and provide a clear and accessible complaints process for users. Her comments show strong confidence in these platforms’ ability to meet the new rules, given their vast resources and technical skills.
The Australian ban is claimed to respond to widespread concerns about the negative impact of social media on teens’ mental health. It can be mentioned that a report from eSafety in February revealed that an astonishing 95% of teens aged 13 to 15 had used at least one social media platform since the beginning of 2024; however, serious concerns surrounding internet privacy remain.
This legislative change is a crucial test for the global digital landscape. It challenges the traditional hands-off approach to online content and user access, positioning Australia at the forefront of a shift towards stricter digital governance. The success of this initiative will likely influence similar laws in other countries facing the same challenges. The Australian government hopes that social media companies will collaborate and use their technological capabilities to ensure the ban works, setting a new standard for online safety and child protection in today’s digital environment.
