Australia is preparing to set strict limits on social media access for minors.
A new bill could ban children under 16 from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others. The proposed legislation is part of a growing effort to improve online safety for young people, according to Digi24.
The bill was passed by Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday. It received strong backing from both the ruling Labor Party and the opposition, with 101 votes in favor and 13 against.
The opposition came mainly from independent lawmakers. The legislation will now be debated in the Senate, where approval is less certain since the government does not hold a majority.
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Comes With Heavy Fines
If passed, the law would impose heavy fines on companies that fail to comply.
Social media platforms could face penalties of up to $32.4 million if they allow children under 16 to create accounts. The rules would go into effect a year after the bill’s final approval.
The proposed changes also require platforms to use stricter methods for verifying user ages. This might include collecting biometric data, a move that has sparked pushback from major tech companies.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, has urged the Australian government to delay the law until proper testing of age-verification technology is complete.
Alphabet said this would ensure the system is workable and reliable.
Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, expressed doubts about the bill’s legality.
The company argued that it could clash with international human rights laws, especially regarding freedom of expression and access to information for minors. X stated that the law might restrict young people’s ability to engage with valuable online resources.
This legislation would bring Australia in line with other regions imposing stricter rules on social media use for minors.
Countries like Spain and areas in the U.S., such as Puerto Rico and New York, have adopted similar measures.
