Australia is set to introduce one of the strictest measures in the world by banning children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the bold move on Thursday, emphasizing that the rise of social media has been causing significant harm to young people, including the spread of inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and unhealthy body image pressures.

The Australian government will hold tech giants accountable for enforcing this age limit. If young users are found on these platforms, the companies will face substantial financial penalties. Albanese said that this initiative was crucial for the wellbeing of Australian children, adding that social media platforms must prove they are taking responsible steps to prevent underage access.

The new law is set to be presented to state and territory leaders this week and will be introduced to the Australian Parliament in late November. If passed, the tech platforms will have one year to implement measures to enforce the ban.

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Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has indicated its willingness to comply with age limitations but cautioned that such restrictions need to be well-thought-out to avoid unintended consequences. TikTok and Snapchat have not provided significant feedback on the proposed law as of now.

Albanese’s move comes as social media continues to face criticism for its negative impact on mental health and youth development. “We need to take action to protect our kids,” Albanese stated, referencing the harmful effects social media exposure has on young people, especially young women who face body image issues exacerbated by online content.

While some have raised concerns about the technical challenges of enforcing age restrictions, particularly with unreliable age verification methods, the government is determined to push forward. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland warned that tech companies will face fines if they fail to meet the new regulations. Social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, will be held accountable for keeping young users off their sites.

Other countries, including Spain and France, have already enacted similar laws, and the U.S. state of Florida is set to ban children under 14 from opening social media accounts starting in January 2025. However, the methods for verifying users’ ages in these regions are still under debate.

With these changes, Australia joins a growing global effort to regulate social media and protect vulnerable young users.