Australia Senate committee supports bill to ban social media for kids

An Australian Senate committee has endorsed a bill that proposes banning social media for children. The bill aims to protect young users from the risks of online harms, including mental health issues and exposure to inappropriate content. Supporters believe the move will improve children's safety and well-being, while critics worry it could limit their ability to engage with online platforms.

Australia's Senate has supported a pioneering bill aimed at banning social media for children under 16, with consideration for strict age-verification methods, including biometrics. The Australian Senate committee has endorsed a bill that would prohibit social media use for children under 16, with the possibility of incorporating age-verification methods such as biometrics or government-issued IDs.

However, it is proposed that social media platforms should not require personal data like passports or digital identification to verify users' ages. The committee emphasized that social media platforms should not mandate users to provide personal data like passports or other forms of digital ID to confirm their age.

Australia plans to pilot an age-verification system, which could involve biometrics or government identification, marking one of the strictest regulations globally. The country intends to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government ID checks to enforce age restrictions, setting one of the most stringent frameworks globally.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government, supported by the opposition Liberal Party, is aiming to pass the bill before the end of the parliamentary year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, with backing from the opposition Liberal Party, is pushing to pass the bill by the close of the parliamentary year.

In a report published Tuesday, the Senate committee stated that social media platforms should offer alternative age-verification methods while considering the trial. The Senate committee’s report, released on Tuesday, suggested that platforms should provide alternative age-assurance methods, taking the trial into account.

The committee recommended that the communications minister submit a progress report on the age-verification trial by September 30, 2025, and urged the government to engage with youth in the process. The committee also recommended that the communications minister present a progress report on the trial by September 30, 2025, and encouraged the government to involve young people in the legislative process.

Senator Karen Grogan, committee chair, stressed that young people, particularly diverse groups, should be central to the discussion to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection. Senator Karen Grogan, chair of the committee, highlighted the importance of focusing on young people, particularly diverse groups, to ensure constructive pathways for online connection during the age-restriction process.

Some independent lawmakers have criticized the government for attempting to rush the legislation through within a week, with the bill introduced last Thursday, submissions closing by Friday, and a hearing held on Monday. Independent lawmakers have voiced criticism over the government’s attempt to rush the legislation through in just a week, with the bill introduced on Thursday, submission deadlines by Friday, and a hearing on Monday.

In separate submissions, Google and Meta (owner of Facebook) argued for delaying the social media ban until the age-verification trial is complete. Google and Meta, the owner of Facebook, have separately argued for delaying the social media ban until the age-verification trial is concluded.

TikTok, owned by Bytedance, stated that the bill requires further consultation, while Elon Musk’s X warned that the proposed law could infringe on children’s human rights. TikTok, owned by Bytedance, called for additional consultation on the bill, while Elon Musk’s X platform expressed concerns that the proposed law could violate children’s human rights.

The bill would require social media platforms to implement reasonable age-verification measures, with fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for violations. The legislation mandates that social media platforms take reasonable steps to verify user age, with potential fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for non-compliance.

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Source: indianexpress‍