Australia's Social Media Ban for Kids Sparks Discussion Among Parents

Australia is making waves far beyond its borders with a bold new proposal to ban children under 16 from using social media.

On November 7, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the initiative in a press conference, stating, “Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it. I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online. And I want Australian parents and families to know that the government has your back.”

The proposed legislation has since received unanimous approval from all of Australia’s states and territories and will now work its way through parliament. During this time lawmakers will have to work through difficult issues like how social media companies will accurately verify ages and how the policy will be enforced. Albanese has stipulated that under the policy parents and children would not face blow back for breaking the law, rather tech companies would be fined for allowing under-age members on their platforms.

Since the policy debut parents and politicians have argued over the benefits and drawbacks. Critics note that enforcing the ban will be difficult and may deprive kids of positive online communities. Supporters counter that the potential to protect children from harm—and, in some cases, save lives—outweighs these concerns.

The uproar over the legislation has reached far beyond Australia. In the U.S., a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act earlier this year that would prohibit children under 13 from creating social media accounts and restrict algorithmic content recommendations for users under 17. Although the bill remains under review, the debate has highlighted a critical challenge for parents: balancing the protection of children from harm with allowing them to engage with technology in age-appropriate ways.

Adding to the urgency of the discussion, studies show many children are exposed to social media as early as age 8, often through shared family devices or accounts that bypass platform age restrictions. Yet organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend waiting until at least age 13 for children to begin using social media, aligning with most platforms’ age requirements. Even at that age, the AAP advises parents to closely monitor usage and limit screen time.

As Australia’s proposed ban and government efforts to regulate social media continue to make headlines, it raises a pivotal question for families worldwide: Is regulating social media a government responsibility, or should it remain a choice for individual households?