‘Enough is enough’: Social media ban for kids under 16 rolling out this year

“I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. 

The Australian government has confirmed it will enforce a ban on social media for young children and teenagers, with the rollout slated before the end of the year.

Under the new law, kids aged up to 16 years will be banned from using social media, including platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

However, the government has yet to confirm the cut-off age for social media use, with Prime Minster Anthony Albanese suggesting it may involve some trial and error to get it right. 

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Social media can have dire consequences for a child's mental health. Picture: iStock

Government confirms social media ban for kids under 16 

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Mr Albanese said the effects of social media are particularly harmful to young children. 

“We know there is mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with – the bullying that can occur online, the access to material which causes social harm – and parents are wanting a response,” he said. 

RELATED: 'Banning TikTok... banning mobile phones doesn't help kids at all'

Delivering the policy is the next step, he added, which may prove to be a difficult task. 

“We know that it's not simple, and it's not easy,” Mr Albanese continued. “Otherwise, governments would have responded before.” 

This proposal comes after parents and mental health professionals raised serious concerns about the impact of social media on young people.

Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Paediatric Psychologist Amanda Abel told Kidspot in August about the dangers of letting young children access social media and how it can impact their developing brain and mental health, including "anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem", which "have all been linked to using social media". 

“The constant exposure to curated and often unrealistic ‘lifestyles’ can lead to negative self-comparisons and a distorted self-image," she said. 

Social media, which is designed to keep users engaged and interacting with the app, may “lead to children spending excessive amounts of time on their devices”, which can “interfere with their sleep, studies and real-world interactions”. 

It’s a warning sign that parents and mental health professionals have flagged for many years. 

“Parents are worried sick about this,” Mr Albanese said. “No generation has faced this challenge before. The safety and mental and physical health of our young people is paramount.” 

RELATED: How is access to social media really affecting our kids?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to ban social media for kids under 16. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We’re listening and determined to act to get this right”

The federal government is not the first to enforce restrictions on teenagers and children using social media. 

Last week, the South Australian government announced it would impose hefty fines on social media companies if they failed to ban children under 14 from using their platforms; SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said he would work closely with the federal government to help implement the ban. 

“The evidence shows early access to addictive social media is causing our kids harm,” said Mr Malinauskas, per 9News. “This is no different to cigarettes or alcohol. When a product or service hurts children, governments must act.” 

Mr Albanese said the government was “listening to parents” by enforcing the social media ban. “My message to Australian parents is we’ve got your back,” he said. “We’re listening and determined to act to get this right.”

Under this proposed new law, which is backed by Liberal leader Peter Dutton, Australia would join the likes of France and Europe in trialling a social media ban for children. 

“I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts,” Mr Albanese said. “We want them to have real experiences with real people.”

He also slammed the company behind the social media platforms, telling reporters “they’re not above everyone else” and have a “social responsibility in order to have that social licence that they require to operate in a decent society”. 

“They can’t just say, ‘We’re a big multinational company. We can do whatever we like, regardless of the harm that’s being caused’.” 

More to come.

Originally published as ‘Enough is enough’: Social media ban for kids under 16 rolling out this year