Australia’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill banning social media use for children under 16. The bill was supported by 102 of 115 lawmakers, with 13 voting against it. The next step is Senate approval, expected by the end of the week.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who introduced the bill, expressed confidence in its swift passage. Once enacted, media platforms will have one year to develop age verification technologies. Non-compliance will result in fines exceeding €30.4 million.
Notably, platforms will be prohibited from requiring government-issued IDs, such as passports or driver’s licenses, for age verification. Instead, the process will rely on specialized technology being developed by a British company.
Supporters of the bill view it as a critical measure to protect children from the harmful effects of social media. However, critics accuse the government of rushing the legislation. They argue it poses privacy risks, undermines parental decision-making and may isolate children or push them towards the dark web.
