Australia's House of Representatives passed a historic bill on Wednesday that could make it the first country to ban children under 16 from using social media.
The proposed legislation, which passed with overwhelming support, now moves to the Senate for final approval.
The bill would make social media giants like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, X, and Snapchat responsible for ensuring that children do not hold accounts.
If the law passes, platforms could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to block minors from joining.
With the law expected to pass in the Senate, platforms would have a year to implement age restrictions before penalties are enforced.
Amendments Address Privacy Concerns
Opposition lawmaker Dan Tehan, who supported the bill, emphasized privacy protections in the legislation.
The government agreed to amendments that would prevent platforms from requiring government-issued identification documents including passports or driver's licenses.
"Will it be perfect? No. But is any law perfect? No, it's not. But if it helps, even if it helps in just the smallest of ways, it will make a huge difference to people's lives," Tehan said in Parliament.
Critics Argue the Legislation Could Be Counterproductive
Despite bipartisan support for the bill, the legislation has faced significant criticism, particularly from independent lawmakers. Critics argue that it has been rushed through Parliament without enough scrutiny and could create privacy risks for all social media users, not just children.
Some also believe the ban could drive children to unregulated platforms on the dark web or make them hesitant to report online harm.
Independent lawmaker Zoe Daniel criticized the bill, stating, "The true object of this legislation is not to make social media safe by design, but to make parents and voters feel like the government is doing something about it."
Support for the Bill From Families Affected by Online Harm
The bill has received praise from some families impacted by online harm. Wayne Holdsworth, whose 17-year-old son Mac took his own life after falling victim to an online sextortion scheme, called the legislation "absolutely essential for the safety of our children."
Holdsworth, an online safety advocate, added "It's not the only thing that we need to do to protect them because education is the key, but to provide some immediate support for our children and parents to be able to manage this, it's a great step."
The bill is set for a vote in the Senate Thursday, and its passage could mark a new chapter in online safety law.
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This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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