Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia plans to set a minimum age limit for social media use, potentially as high as 16, to encourage children to engage more in physical activities than online.
This year, the government will introduce federal legislation aimed at restricting children’s access to social media platforms, labelling the influence of these sites on youth as a “scourge.”
Albanese noted that the minimum age for accessing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok will be determined, but it is anticipated to be between 14 and 16 years old.
The centre-left leader stated that an age verification trial will be conducted in the coming months before the legislation is implemented by the end of the year.
“I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields, swimming pools, and tennis courts,” Albanese expressed.
During an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he emphasized the need for children to engage in real-life interactions over digital ones, citing the social harm caused by excessive use of social media.
In various media discussions about the initiative, Albanese revealed his inclination to prohibit social media use by children under 16.
