Australian PM calls for social media companies to protect children following under-16 ban

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday that social media companies now have a social responsibility to protect children, following the passage of legislation banning anyone under 16 from using social media platforms.

The new laws, which passed through both houses of parliament, are the first of their kind in the world. Albanese emphasized that these measures aim to safeguard young Australians, with social media platforms now obligated to prioritize the safety of children on their sites.

Under the new legislation, which will take effect in 12 months, social media companies that fail to prevent under-16s from using their platforms could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($32.5 million). Albanese acknowledged that while enforcement may not be perfect, similar to age restrictions on alcohol, the law is a necessary step for child protection.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, expressed concerns about the rushed passage of the legislation, arguing that it did not adequately consider existing industry practices or the opinions of young people.

The government is also trialing age verification technologies to guide how the age limit will be enforced.