Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said that the federal government would introduce legislation this year to restrict access to social media for children. The government will soon test age verification technology to block children from creating social media accounts, with the aim of restricting children's access to digital platforms until they reach the age of 16 by the end of 2024. Other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Malaysia, Pakistan, China, and Singapore, have also announced similar plans to tighten online media regulations in recent months. Outside the region, France and some states in the US have also sought to pass legislation restricting social media use for minors. Albanese emphasized that the goal of the legislation is to prioritize the safety and well-being of children, both mentally and physically.
More details about the plan will be provided after completion of the $6.5 million trial of age verification and assurance technology, funded in the May budget. The push to ban children from social media became a bipartisan policy in Australia after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said that the Coalition would seek to ban children under 16.

10.09.2024