Set a national age limit for social media

• This year, Australia introduced an age restriction on the use of social media.

• “I want them to turn off their devices,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

• Opponents fear the bill could push children down more dangerous paths.

The Australian Government wants children to get away from their screens and get outside into the fresh air.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the government plans to introduce age restrictions on social media users to protect the mental and physical health of young people.

The exact minimum age has not yet been set, but Albanese suggested a range of 14 to 16.

The government is exploring ways to enforce the new law, it told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“This is for moms and dads,” Albanese said in the X video. “I want kids to have a childhood. I want them to unplug from their devices and go to the soccer field and the netball courts. I want them to have real experiences with real people.”

Representatives for Meta, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While most social media platforms block access for children under 13, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in March banning social media use by children under 14.

Opponents of the proposed law in Australia say it will not stop children from using the internet but will instead force them to visit less secure parts of the web.

According to Reuters, Australia’s Cyber ​​Safety Commissioner, a government agency dedicated to online safety, said in June that “restriction-based approaches can limit young people’s access to vital support” and encourage them to seek out “less regulated, non-mainstream services.”

“We know that online harm can pose a threat to safety across multiple platforms at all ages, both before and after adolescence,” the e-Safety Commissioner said in a press release Monday. “We need to continue to prepare our young people for the technological trends and digital environment of the future.”

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