Next step in kids’ social ban revealed
Written by admin on September 10, 2024
New laws to enforce a ban on social media for young people will be floated before the next election, but one key issue is yet to be ironed out.
The Albanese government has announced it will introduce new legislation before the next federal election, but is still mulling over what age social media access should be restricted to.
Calling harmful effects of social media on young Australians “a scourge”, Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday morning his government was carrying out age assurance trials between the ages of 14 and 16.
“We know there is mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with – the bullying that can occur online, the access to material which causes social harm – and parents are wanting a response,” the Prime Minister told the ABC.
“We’re looking at the range between 14 and 16.”
He also said the government was looking at how best to enforce age restrictions nationally.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie told Nine’s Today that the Coalition had “been on this page a long time” and pledged a Coalition government would legislate a restriction to “the age of 16” within 100 days if it won the next election.
The proposal comes amid widespread concerns from mental health professionals and parents alike about effects of social platforms on young people.
With tech-savvy kids accessing technology at an increasingly early age, parents are having a hard time keeping an eye on what they get up to online.
Mr Albanese said his government was “listening to parents”.
“I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts,” he said.
“We want them to have real experiences with real people. We know that social media is causing social harm.”
Mr Albanese also slammed the companies behind the platforms, saying they had “a social responsibility in order to have that social licence that they require to operate in a decent society.”
“They’re not above everyone else,” he said.
“They can’t just say, ‘We’re a big multinational company. We can do whatever we like, regardless of the harm that’s being caused’.”
The South Australian government last week announced new laws that would impose big fines on social media firms if they did not ban children under 14.
More to come
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