By the end of the year, a trial for age verification will be conducted in Australia before a minimum age limit is implemented for social media access. The administration of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is thinking of implementing a 14–16 age range in order to address worries about the negative effects of social media on children’s mental and physical health.
Digital rights organizations have criticized the plan, claiming it could force young people into riskier online environments and restrict their access to vital support systems. The government should first confer with experts and disadvantaged communities, according to calls made by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and industry association DIGI, before enacting the new regulations.
The measure would make Australia one of the first nations to implement such limitations, following the European Union and others’ failed attempts. Approximately 80% of Australians use social media. The decision was made in the midst of a parliamentary investigation into the impact of social media on mental health, which has brought attention to the advantages and disadvantages of teenage internet use.