National cabinet passes social media age ban for kids under 16

All state and territory leaders have agreed to a plan to ban social media for children, in a world-first move imposing a minimum age of 16.

Australian children under the age of 16 are set to be banned from having social media accounts after all six Australian states and two territories endorsed a Federal government age limit proposal.

During a national cabinet meeting on Friday, state and territory leaders endorsed the plan, which would put the onus on social media giants — such as Meta, the company who owns Facebook and Instagram — to enforce the age restrictions and set age verification processes.

Premier Peter Malinauskas praised the federal government and his state counterparts for supporting the move to help protect children, which had its origins here in South Australia.

Earlier this year, Mr Malinauskas commissioned former Chief Justice of the High Court Robert French to undertake an independent legal examination into how the state government could ban social media for children.

States and territories have agreed to the federal government’s proposal to ban social media for children under 16. Picture: NewsWire/ Nikki Short

He said while the state government was pursuing legislation changes at state level to restrict children under the age of 14 from social media, a national framework was ultimately the best outcome.

He said the federal government’s under 16 age was appropriate for a uniform approach to protect children nationwide.

The move will make Australia the first country in the world to impose a minimum social media age of 16.

Australia is the first country in the world to impose a minimum social media age of 16. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“This is a globally leading reform that started here … it was South Australia that initiated this pursuit, and it is now going to be a globally-leading reform protecting young people from the addiction of social media,” he said.

“Protecting young people from the unnecessary mental health damage that can be imposed upon them through no fault of their own.

“Maybe young people will spend more time talking to one another or out on the sports field or practising an instrument, this is all good news.”

Mr Malinauskas said it was clear the harm social media was doing to young people.

“The evidence is in, it is no longer subject to dispute; social media is doing our children harm and that is why putting in place a social media ban for children under the age of 16 will do our country a lot of good.” he said.

The Premier said it was expected there could be exemptions from the incoming bans, but details were yet to be finalised.

The ban is likely to come into effect next year once the legislation is passed through parliament.

Originally published as National cabinet passes social media age ban for kids under 16