The Australian government is reportedly considering legislation to restrict access to social media platforms for minors in the country. This planning is also supported by the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese and he also suggested a suitable minimum age which is as early as 14 to 16 years old. However, the final age limit will be determined after negotiation.
The Australian government's decision was prompted by growing concerns about the negative effects of social media use such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok on mental health, attitudes and sleep patterns, which at the same time pose a risk to increased rates of depression and cyber bullying among young people.
Thus, to overcome the problem, the government plans to introduce a mandatory age verification system to prohibit the use of social media. This action may later require users to provide proof of age through identification card, passport or driver's license verification.
This ban certainly caused various debates among the community including parents and technology experts. Some think this kind of ban is necessary and some feel that this kind of action is beyond the government's authority and parents should be more responsible in monitoring their children's online activities.
If this law is passed, Australia will be among the small number of countries that have implemented similar restrictions such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany.