Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the European Commission’s decision to follow Australia’s lead in implementing strict social media restrictions for children under 16.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the creation of a dedicated taskforce to explore ways to make social media safer for minors, closely monitoring the outcomes of Australia’s world-first legislation, which comes into effect on December 10.
“In my time, society taught children not to smoke, drink alcohol, or view adult content until a certain age. It is now time to do the same for social media,” von der Leyen said, emphasizing the importance of protecting children in the digital age.
Under the new Australian laws, children under 16 will be prohibited from creating or maintaining social media accounts. Major tech companies including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube are responsible for ensuring compliance, implementing strict verification measures to safeguard minors.
The initiative follows the News Corp campaign “Let Them Be Kids,” which advocates for children’s safety online. Parents who have tragically lost children due to social media-related harms have publicly supported the legislation. Child safety experts note that Australia is setting a global precedent, and other nations adopting similar measures could save hundreds of children from online risks.
The European Union has committed to monitoring Australia’s implementation closely, with a report on the results expected by the end of the year. Countries such as France, Spain, and Greece have expressed strong interest in adopting similar legislation, highlighting a growing international effort to regulate the digital environment for the protection of children.
