Babatunji Wusu –
- Prime Minister Albanese announces legislation to set a 16+ minimum age for social media.
- Critics raise concerns about privacy and the potential for restrictive internet access.
- The government is testing “age assurance” technologies, though they are still under development.
- Elon Musk and others criticize the move as a backdoor attempt to control internet access.
- The legislation is expected to come into effect in 12 months, with social media platforms responsible for enforcement.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed the government’s plan to implement a minimum age requirement of 16 for accessing social media platforms. In a post on X, Albanese stated, “We’re introducing our bill to make 16 years the minimum age for social media.” This announcement has ignited widespread debate, with many critics raising concerns about its potential impact on privacy, its implementation, and the risk of restricting internet freedoms.
The proposed legislation, set to be introduced next week, mandates that all Australians verify their age before accessing major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. During a Senate Committee hearing, Greens Senator David Shoebridge questioned the logistics of this age verification process, emphasizing the privacy implications. Assistant Secretary of Online Safety, Andrew Irwin, confirmed that everyone seeking to access social media would need to undergo an age verification process.
Shoebridge warned that the age restrictions could lead to significant privacy issues, stating, “The government isn’t being transparent about how they will enforce this system, and it may require surrendering personal data from all users.” He described the measure as a national age verification system disguised as a child safety initiative.
The government has committed $6.5 million to trial “age assurance” technologies, which James Chisholm, Deputy Secretary of Communications and Media at DITRDCA, explained could include methods such as facial recognition or keystroke analysis to estimate users’ ages. However, Chisholm admitted that these technologies are still in development and not yet fully reliable.
Tech mogul Elon Musk has criticized the proposal, calling it a “backdoor way to control internet access” for all Australians. Other critics share similar concerns, with Shoebridge warning that such measures could push young users toward unregulated and potentially dangerous online spaces.
Despite the backlash, Albanese remains firm in his support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of addressing online harms such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and explicit content. If passed, the legislation will come into effect 12 months later, with social media companies held responsible for enforcing the new age limits.
The debate surrounding the proposal is expected to intensify, particularly around issues of privacy, data security, and the broader implications of restricting internet access based on age.
