Canberra : Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that social media companies now hold a social responsibility to protect children, following the passage of groundbreaking legislation that bans anyone under the age of 16 from using social media platforms.

Legislation Overview– The Senate passed the legislation late Thursday night, with final approval from the House of Representatives on Friday morning. The new law is set to take effect in 12 months.

Social media companies that fail to prevent under-16s from accessing their platforms will face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($32.5 million).

Albanese’s Remarks– Albanese emphasized the importance of safeguarding young Australians, stating:

“Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them.”

Acknowledging potential enforcement challenges, he added:

“We don’t argue that its implementation will be perfect, just like the alcohol ban for under 18s doesn’t mean that someone under 18 never has access, but we know that it’s the right thing to do.”

Industry Concerns- Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, expressed concern over the rapid progression of the legislation, stating:

“We are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people.”

Next Steps- A government-funded trial of age verification technologies is expected to determine how the law will be enforced, aiming to balance security with usability while ensuring children’s safety online.