Anthony Albanese announces new social media rules every single young Aussie or parent needs to know about

Anthony Albanese will propose new laws to ban children under a certain age from registering social media accounts.

The prime minister will unveil his plan on Tuesday to introduce legislation banning children’s access to social media in a bid to protect their emotional and mental wellbeing.

No minimum age has been announced yet, but he has previously supported moves to raise the proposed age limit from 13 to 16, giving teenagers more time to mature without the social pressures that can build in an online environment.

“We know that technology is changing rapidly. No government will be able to protect every child from every threat, but we must do everything we can,” Mr Albanese said on Monday.

‘Parents are terrified by this. We know they are operating without a map – no generation has faced this challenge before, so my message to Australian parents is: we are here for you.

“Too often, there is nothing social about social media at all. It distracts kids from real friends and real experiences.”

The proposed laws are reportedly supported by all jurisdictions, with South Australia originally identified as the first state to implement the rules.

On Monday, South Africa’s Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas said: “This is an issue that calls for swift and decisive leadership and I thank the Prime Minister for showing that.”

‘Research shows that early access to addictive social media is harmful to our children. The same goes for cigarettes or alcohol.

“If a product or service harms children, governments must intervene.”

The South Australian state government has introduced a bill that would ban children under the age of 13 from using social media.

He previously said that the consequences for social media companies that do not comply with the new rules would be “serious and harsh”.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns previously said 16 would be an appropriate number, while Queensland Premier Steven Miles suggested 14.

The legislation will be informed by the government’s $6.5 million “age guarantee trial”, which began on July 1 as one of Labor’s commitments in the 2024-25 federal budget.

New legislation would prevent children under a certain age from registering to use social media (stock image)

The Labour union had pledged to test age-assurance technologies that could be effective in preventing access to pornography by under-18s, and to restrict access to social media to teenagers aged 13 to 16.

Phases one and two involved research into attitudes towards age-assurance technologies, along with consultation with parents, academics, young people and digital platforms.

This week, the third phase will start, in which the technology will be tested.

The law imposes a “duty of care” on social media companies, meaning they must block children under a certain age from accessing their accounts.

Platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram should take reasonable measures to prevent access.

Failure to comply may result in legal action being taken on behalf of the child who has suffered serious mental or physical harm.