Australia leads the fight against social media's harmful effects on children

The policy requires users to undergo a rigorous biometric verification process, such as a facial scan or fingerprint, to verify their age. No exceptions will be allowed, even with parental consent. This means that all existing social media accounts of users under the age of 16 will be locked, and they will not be able to create new accounts without meeting age verification requirements.

Earlier, on November 7, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a groundbreaking new law that will completely ban young people under the age of 16 from using popular social media platforms. This strict regulation, expected to come into effect by the end of next year, marks an unprecedented bold step by any country to protect the younger generation from the negative effects of social media.

Big tech companies like Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company) and TikTok will have to implement strict age verification measures, such as requiring users to provide identification or using facial recognition technology, to comply with the new law. Violations of this regulation could result in severe penalties for both users and social media platforms.

If you thought TikTok dances and Instagram stories were just harmless youth entertainment, the Australian government has a different take. In an unprecedented move, Australia has introduced a comprehensive package of measures to curb social media use among teenagers.

Rather than simply setting an age limit, the Australian Government has pioneered the adoption of modern biometric technologies, such as facial or fingerprint scans, combined with checking personal information from government databases to verify user identity.

What is special about this policy is its absolute strictness, even with parental consent, teenagers under 16 will still not be allowed to create accounts on social networking platforms. This decision shows Australia's tough stance in protecting the younger generation from the negative effects of social networking, and at the same time sets a new standard for other countries in the world.

Speaking at a press conference, Prime Minister Albanese said: "Social media is harming our children, and I will put an end to it. Imagine you are a 14-year-old going through a major life change. Exposure to negative content on social media can make this transition much more difficult. We understand that, and so we are listening and taking concrete actions to address the problem."

The new comprehensive package of measures marks a significant shift in the way social media platforms are regulated, especially when it comes to young users. Previously, self-regulation was the dominant model, where platforms set and enforce their own rules. However, with the new policy, the government has decided to take a deeper step by establishing a stricter regulatory framework.

The introduction of age verification rules has opened up a whole new realm of cyber governance. It is the first time a major country has undertaken such a sweeping reform, setting a new standard for other countries around the world. The decision affects not only major tech companies, but also has far-reaching implications for how we access and use information online.

Australia is the only jurisdiction to have attempted such stringent verification measures, making it a test case for whether such measures can effectively limit young people’s access to social media platforms. Albanese has pledged to introduce the bill into parliament this year, and if passed, the new law would come into effect in 12 months.

“The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access. The onus will not be on parents or young people,” Mr Albanese said.

While controversial, Australia’s decision has opened a global conversation about the role of government in regulating cyberspace and protecting children. The success or failure of this policy will have a major impact on how other countries approach the issue in the future.

It is notable that Australia’s new law completely removes the ability for parents to consent to their children’s use of social media. In the past, parental consent was seen as an important exception to most digital age regulations. Parents’ permission for their children to access a particular platform, even if they are under a certain age, was generally accepted and respected.

However, Australia's new law breaks with this tradition, affirming a completely new principle that the best interests of the child must come first, regardless of the parents' opinions.

The decision reflects a fundamental shift in how governments view the role of parents in children’s digital lives. Rather than seeing parents as the ultimate decision makers, the state is now taking on a more active protective role. This raises questions about the balance between individual freedom and the public responsibility to create a safe online environment for children.

The new law also raises practical challenges, such as whether biometric verification systems can be effectively deployed at scale, especially in culturally and technologically diverse communities. How can we ensure that children’s biometric information is kept completely secure and not misused? And will a blanket ban actually be effective in keeping children off social media, or will it simply push them into other, potentially more risky, online activities?

Implementing an accurate and efficient age verification system requires technology companies to solve a series of complex technical challenges. From developing accurate facial and voice recognition algorithms to building massive databases of personal information, companies will have to invest significant resources and time.

Ensuring that the system does not violate users’ privacy is also a difficult issue. When the law officially comes into effect at the end of 2025, it will set an important precedent that will have a profound impact on how other countries approach online content regulation and child protection.