Australia is moving closer to implementing a groundbreaking bill that can ban social media access for children, sparking intense debate among global tech giants. Google and Meta have urged Australian lawmakers to delay the propose legislation, citing concerns over its potential impact on privacy, digital inclusion, and enforcement feasibility.
This bill aims to protect minors from online harm but has drawn criticism from companies arguing that it may inadvertently create barriers for young users and complicate compliance.
As the debate intensifies, the outcome could set a precedent for digital regulation worldwide
Australia Moves Closer to Ban Social Media for Children
Australia move closer to banning social media for children under 16 after the parliament’s lower house pass the bill even as Alphabet’s Google and Facebook-owner Meta press the government to delay the legislation.
Australia’s House of Representatives pass the bill 102 votes to 13 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government secure bipartisan support for the ban.
The Senate is expect to debate the bill later on, with the government keen to ensure it is pass by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
Anthony Albanese, trying to lift his approval ratings ahead of an election expect in May 2025, has argue that excessive use of social media poses risks to the physical and mental health of children and is looking for support from parents.
Media outlets, including News Corp, have back the ban.
Some youth advocates including Australia’s human rights commission raise concerns the law would hurt children’s rights to self-expression, but a YouGov survey release on Tuesday show 77% of Australians back the ban, up from 61% in an August survey.
This plan law would force social media platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place.
Companies could be fine up to AUD 49.5 million ($32 million or approx. Rs. 270 crore) for systemic breaches.
Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce the ban, some of the toughest social media controls impose by any country to date.
A Senate committee back the bill but insert a condition that social media platforms should not force users to submit personal data such as passport and other digital identification to prove their age.
In its report, the Senate committee environment and communications legislation committee said social media platforms “must set out alternative methods for assuring age as reasonable steps with consideration given to the age assurance trial.“
A progress report on the age assurance trial must be submit by the communications minister to parliament by 30th September, 2025, the committee said as it urge the government to “meaningfully engage” with youth when framing the law.
Senator Karen Grogan said :
“Young people, and in particular diverse cohorts, must be at the centre of the conversation as an age restriction is implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection,”.
Google, Meta Urge Australia to Delay Bill on Social Media Ban for Children
Google and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms urge the Australian government to delay a bill that will ban most forms of social media for children under 16, saying more time was need to assess its potential impact.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left government wants to pass the bill, which represents some of the toughest controls on children’s social media use impose by any country, into law by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.
The bill was introduce in parliament last week and open for submissions of opinions for only one day.
Google and Meta said in their submissions that the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before going ahead.
The age-verification system may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off.
Meta said :
"In the absence of such results, neither industry nor Australians will understand the nature or scale of age assurance required by the bill, nor the impact of such measures on Australians,", "In its present form, the bill is inconsistent and ineffective."
The law would force social media platforms, and not parents or children, to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place.
The opposition Liberal party is expect to support the bill though some independent lawmakers have accuse the government of rushing through the entire process in around a week.
A Senate committee responsible for communications legislation is schedule to deliver a report.
Bytedance’s TikTok said the bill lack clarity and that it had “significant concerns” with the government’s plan to pass the bill without details consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organisations and young people.
TikTok said :
"Where novel policy is put forward, it's important that legislation is draft in a thorough and consider way, to ensure it is able to achieve its stated intention. This has not been the case with respect to this Bill,".
Elon Musk’s X raise concerns that the bill will negatively impact the human rights of children and young people, including their rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
Elon Musk, who views himself as a champion of free speech, last week attack the Australian government saying the bill seem like a backdoor way to control access to the internet.
