Author: By Barsha Rai (Edited by Eugenia Kourkoutas)
From Barsha Rai:
It’s mid-April 2026. You just got home after a stressful shift at Maccas. You want to unwind, so you decide to scroll through Instagram reels, laugh at memes, and make a TikTok video. Or maybe you’re feeling down, so you decide to DM your friends on the other side of the world, share your art on your Instagram page, or sign up for that voluntary role you saw on your favourite humanitarian’s Facebook profile.
But if you’re under 16, please disregard the information above — because you’re banned.
Yes, you heard that right. On November 29th, Parliament passed a controversial bill banning anyone under 16 years of age from using social media. With only a week left before Parliament was set to adjourn until 2025, an article by ABC reporter Maani Truu’s highlights how politicians have criticised the supposed “rushed” Senate inquiry about the passed legislation. Truu quotes Sarah Hanson-Young, a spokesperson for the Greens, in the article:
“The government’s deal with [Opposition Leader Peter] Dutton to ram through a social media age ban in under a week is rushed and reckless.” She also stated that an “age ban will not make social media safer for anyone” as it is “complicated to implement and will have unintended consequences for young people.”
This bill has been seen contradictive in many ways. On the one hand, there are no age restrictions of 13– and 14-year-olds who pay taxes and make minimal wages at fast-food chains. However, these same individuals were not consulted about a bill that will massively impact their lives.
Let’s not forget as well the recent controversy in October 2024 when the Northern Territory government passed legislation lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years of age. This leads to me to question; how can a 10-year-old child be responsible enough to face criminal charges but too young to share cat memes on Instagram?
At the same time the social media ban was being debated in Parliament, another bill of a similar origin was introduced: the Misinformation and Disinformation law. Under this law, anyone found deliberately or ignorantly spreading false information on social media would be censored from the platforms. However, as reported by Josh Butler in The Guardian, this law was immediately scrapped with Coalition communication Spokesperson David Coleman labelling the law an “appalling bill and an infringement on Australia’s freedom of speech” as well as “betrayal to democracy”.
Holding Hands Cellphone. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya from Pexels.
However, this leads to a contradiction. If the restriction of user ability on social media platforms is considered an infringement of democracy, wouldn’t the banning of children from social media also be considered an infringement of democracy and freedom of speech?
And to the adults who think this doesn’t concern them, let me break it to you: it possibly will. Many Australians have been worried that to access or log in to social media platforms or adult sites, users will be required to provide government issued identification, including their MyGov and Digital IDs. However, a media release from Anthony Albanese’s Government said that the “bill makes clear that no Australian will be compelled to use government identification (including Digital ID) for age assurance on social media.”
However, the release also states that platforms must offers “alternatives” to measure the ages of users. Some of these alternatives according to ABC reporter Lisa M Given’s article have included checking ages through credit cards linked to a person’s app store account and trials for this according to Communications Minister Rowland are “already underway.”
Another alternative being considered is the use of facial recognition technology which is a controversial method according to Given’s article. Given reports on this technology having “significant inaccuracies and biases” in recognising men and women of colour as well as having a consistent error recognising people aged 13-16 years old.
Teenagers taking a group selfie. Photo by Olia Danilevich from Pexels.
Adults and the government need to understand that young people don’t use social media solely for memes or trends. For many, it’s a platform where they find community, a sense of belonging, and a voice. Whether you’re a kid from the rural outback or a child in a wheelchair, social media provides access to the entire world.
The Australian Human Rights Commission have urged the Northern Territory’s government to reverse the criminal age bill passed, stating that this bill “will in fact contribute to an increase in criminal activity, rather than address the root issues of offending by children.”
I would like to share the same sentiment when it comes to this social media ban, while the negative impact of social media on young minds is not to be underestimated, there were other alternatives to consider.
The Human Rights Commission also expressed their view on the social media ban more specifically, stating: “There are less restrictive alternatives available that could achieve the aim of protecting children and young people from online harms, but without having such a significant negative impact on other human rights”.
“Social media is integral to modern communication and socialisation. Excluding young people from these platforms may isolate them from their peers and limit their ability to ability to access much-needed information and support.”
This calls for promoting digital literacy, creating support helplines, policing harmful content, and strengthening community guidelines. The dark side of social media affects everyone, regardless of age. For example, in 2023, people over 65 were the most likely to fall victim to social media scams, collectively losing $120 million. Does this mean the government will ban the elderly from using social media next? Or does this only apply to those who can’t vote and, therefore, have no say in legislation?
With the law set to take effect from 2026 and preliminary trials running in 2025, we will find out more, whether social media for 16-year-olds is here to stay or will be “Hot to Go.”
