Children under the age of 16 will be virtually banned from social media, with the federal parliament poised to enact world-first legislation.
The Senate is expected to approve bills Thursday that would ban young people from platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, with bipartisan support.
However, there are concerns that the proposal has passed through parliament without proper scrutiny, as Australia would be the first country to introduce such a ban.
The ban would come into effect a year after the laws are passed by Parliament, while the federal government continues to conduct tests on age verification technology.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the age limit would help children be safe online.
“We know that parents are concerned about the harm to children and we have decided to support them,” she told parliament.
“Keeping Australians safe online requires decisive action and the Albanian government is delivering just that.”
The ban had been criticized after an inquiry into the laws lasted just three hours, with people given just one day to submit their views, and a lack of consultation with young people themselves.
Minister Michelle Rowland has defended the laws, saying the Government supports parents
Suicide Prevention Australia executive director Christopher Stone said the laws were hasty and would not address the issue of online harm.
“The government is hitting a wall blindfolded by rushing this legislation,” he said.
“It has bypassed the rigorous consultation and scrutiny required for such a far-reaching decision.
“Young Australians deserve evidence-based policies, not hasty decisions.
‘This legislation fails to take into account the positive aspects of social media in supporting young people’s mental health and sense of belonging.’
While the bill has enjoyed bipartisan support, several coalition members have broken ranks on these issues.
Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to vote against the ban in the House of Representatives, while Coalition Senator Matt Canavan also criticized the laws.