Australia set to BAN social media for children under 14: 'Enough is enough'

The Australian prime minister is set to announce the nationwide move on Tuesday. Draft legislation has proposed the ban start at 14, though Albanese is yet to state the specific age limits and announce the start date.

The government wants to wait for the results of an age-verification trial which begins its final phase this week before they outline the exact details.

“We know that technology moves fast,” Albanese said before the announcement.

“No government is going to be able to protect every child from every threat – but we have to do all we can. Parents are worried sick about this. We know they’re working without a map – no generation has faced this challenge before.”

In draft legislation prepared by chief justice Robert French and commissioned by the South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas, the state of South Australia has proposed an outright ban for children under 13, and the need for parental consent for kids between the ages of 14 and 15.

Malinauskas has endorsed setting the age as 14, though the agreed upon age could be higher.

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“The evidence shows early access to addictive social media is causing our kids harm,” Malinauskas said in support of the federal government’s move.

“This is no different to cigarettes or alcohol. When a product or service hurts children, governments must act. We will work closely with the commonwealth to implement this ban, which will be welcomed by parents across the country.”

The 276-page report outlines the proposed changes are “available for other state governments to pursue” if they choose to and could be rolled out across the nation.

If social media companies breach the rules, Malinauskas said parents, or a regulator on behalf of a child, could seek compensation.

“The regulator can also, at the most severe end, pursue civil penalties that would be of a seven-figure sum or more against these social media platforms in the event they breach and break the law with impunity," he said.

“We want to create a big, massive deterrent against these giant companies where they do harm to our children.”

Jacinta Allen, the Victorian premier, has also announced her state’s support of the restrictions.

She said: “Parents are trying to manage content on devices at home, but it’s hard."

“It’s like a social media tsunami they feel they can’t stop.”