Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to take action against the potential harms of social media on children, announcing plans to introduce legislation that would restrict access to social media platforms for minors. In a recent TV interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC), Albanese expressed concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health.
The Prime Minister proposed introducing age verification technology to prevent children under a certain age from accessing social media. While he did not specify an exact age limit, he suggested that the ban could apply to children under the age of 14 or 16, citing the need to protect them from the potential harms of social media.
In response to the proposal, Meta, the parent company of several major social media platforms, issued a statement highlighting its existing minimum age requirement of 13 years for users. The company emphasized its commitment to empowering young people to benefit from social media in a safe and controlled environment, rather than simply restricting access.
The issue of social media access for minors has been a topic of discussion among lawmakers globally. In the US, several bills have been proposed to restrict social media access for teenagers under the age of 16. The state of Utah has also introduced laws requiring teens to obtain parental consent and provide identification to access social media accounts.
The debate around social media use has intensified as concerns about its impact on mental health continue to grow. A recent open letter signed by several prominent figures, including US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, called for social media companies to display visible health warnings on their platforms, similar to those found on cigarette packaging. The letter highlighted the need for greater awareness about the potential risks associated with social media use, particularly among young people.
