Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms, with legislation taking effect this week that carries fines of up to $50 million per violation for non-compliant tech companies. The law targets platforms including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland calling recommendation algorithms “behavioral cocaine” that keep young users scrolling.
However, critics say the ban contains significant gaps that undermine its stated goals. The legislation penalizes platforms—not parents or children—and applies only to logged-in account access, meaning minors can still browse content through web browsers without accounts. Professor Daniel Angus of QUT’s Digital Media Research Center warned this could expose young people to unfiltered content that would otherwise be screened by platform algorithms.
Mental health advocates have raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable youth, particularly LGBTQ+ teenagers. Research shows 59% of LGBTQ+ young Australians access mental health support through social media, and the ban’s implementation—just days before summer school holidays—coincides with reduced hours at QLife, the nation’s main LGBTQ+ helpline. Early reports indicate teens are already migrating to less-regulated platforms like Yoop and LemonAid.
The policy has drawn international attention, with Malaysia and New Zealand considering similar legislation. While 77% of Australian adults supported the ban according to YouGov polling, Professor Paula Gerber of Monash University criticized lawmakers for severing “digital lifelines without investing in offline alternatives.”
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