Australia studies social media ban on children and teenagers

The Australian Government is convinced that social media severely undermines the mental health of children and adolescents and that is why is studying a measure that imposes a minimum age for the youngest members of the household to be able to enter 2.0 platforms.

That minimum age is yet to be determined, but Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister, believes that This should move in the range between 14 and 16 yearsIn order to implement this age restriction, the Australian parliament is expected to pass a law this year.

“Its a nitrogen”says Albanese about the pernicious effect of platforms like TikTok, Instagram or Facebook on minors.

The Prime Minister, who is a member of the Australian Labor Party, has not specified how it will be monitored on a technical level. that children and teenagers cannot access social networks if they are under a certain age. The Australian government is experimenting with various methods to verify the age of users when connecting to social media platforms. According to Albanese, the ultimate goal of the measure is to ensure that minors are not deprived of their childhood because of the potentially harmful influence of social media.

Preserving the mental and physical health of young people: the goal of the Australian Government initiative

«We know that social media causes serious harm to children and prevents them from having real friends and living real experiences»the Australian Prime Minister emphasises. “Parents want to see their children away from their phones and enjoying themselves on the football pitch instead. And I share the same desire,” he adds.

The physical and mental health of young people is a priority for the Australian Governmentwhich will therefore force social networks and digital platforms to exercise the important responsibility they have on a social level when it comes to adequately protecting children and adolescents.

A Similar proposal from the state of South Australiawhere the objective is to ban access to social networks for adolescents under 14 years of age, is the model that inspires the new Australian Government projectAccording to the proposal of the state of South Australia, young people aged 14 and 15 will also have to ask their parents for express permission to connect to 2.0 platforms.