The nation down under has news for kids under 16.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a proposal for a new law on Thursday. Australia’s government calls it a world-leading legislation. The rule would require social media users to be at least 16 years old.
The change won’t happen overnight. First, the law must go to Australia’s parliament. It should do so during the final two weeks of this year’s parliamentary session. If passed, the age restriction would take effect after 12 months.
“I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles,” says Prime Minister Albanese. “They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online.”
It’s not just grown-ups. Many teenagers feel the negative effects of social media too. They say it encourages false comparison and addictive behavior. By enforcing a minimum age, Australia’s new law would treat social media like alcohol or tobacco. (The legal age for using those products in Australia is 18.)
Kids won’t go to jail if they forget to delete the Instagram app. Neither will their parents. This regulation would place responsibility on social media companies themselves. If platforms like Meta and X fail to enforce the age limit, they would face legal penalties.
Not everyone agrees with the proposed rule. The dissent doesn’t come only from teenagers. Some experts think the new law will actually worsen the dangers of social media.
Jackie Hallan works as director of a youth mental health service called ReachOut. “We think young people are likely to circumvent a ban, and our concern is that it really drives the behavior underground,” says Hallan. “Then if things go wrong, young people are less likely to get support from parents and carers because they’re worried about getting in trouble.”
Sunita Bose is a director at The Digital Industry Group Inc. “Rather than blocking access through bans, we need to take a balanced approach to create age-appropriate spaces, build digital literacy, and protect young people from online harm,” she says.
Good laws can help encourage health and safety. But are laws enough?
When people sin or break the rules, they often want to hide—just like Hallan says. But God knows people can’t follow laws perfectly. Through Jesus, He gives us grace. When things go wrong, we don’t need to hide—even if the wrong is the consequence of our own sin. Instead, we can seek forgiveness and help from God. We can turn to Him and the good parents and mentors He puts in our lives.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. — James 5:16
