Australia proposes banning social media for under-16s, with fines up to AU$50 million for non-compliance and no parental exemptions.

Australia's government introduced a bill in parliament on Thursday that aims to ban social media access for children under the age of 16. Social media platforms that fail to enforce the ban could face fines of up to AU$50 million (€30.8 million, $32 million). The proposed legislation does not allow for exemptions, even for parental consent to permit children to use social media.

To uphold the ban, the government plans to test an age-verification system that may use biometrics or government-issued identification. If passed, the legislation would impose some of the most stringent restrictions on social media platforms worldwide.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the proposal as a pivotal reform. "We know some kids will find workarounds, but we're sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act," he said in a statement.

The opposition Liberal Party is expected to support the bill, but independents and members of the Green Party have requested additional details. The legislation, which sets the highest age restriction globally, would not permit exceptions for pre-existing accounts or parental consent.

In comparison, Spain implemented a similar ban in June, restricting social media access for those under 16. France proposed a similar restriction for children under 15 last year, but parental consent allowed many to bypass it. In the United States, laws have required parental consent for tech companies to collect data on users under 13 for decades.

While the bill aims to protect children, child welfare and internet experts have raised concerns. Critics argue it could isolate teenagers and drive them toward unregulated online spaces. Katie Maskiell of UNICEF Australia warned that the proposed law is not a comprehensive solution for safeguarding children, stating it might inadvertently push young users to more covert platforms.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland emphasized that the objective is to protect children without isolating them. "This is about protecting young people, not punishing or isolating them, and letting parents know that we're in their corner when it comes to supporting their children's health and wellbeing," Rowland said