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Australia's social media ban targets children under 16

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Tech giants warn ban may push kids to unsafe internet

areas

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Some Australians praise the ban, others criticse govt

(Adds quote from Australians, TikTok statement, paragraphs 1,

5-11, 13, 15-17)

By Alasdair Pal and Cordelia Hsu

SYDNEY, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Australians reacted on Friday

with a mixture of anger and relief to a social media ban on

children under 16 that the government says is world-leading, but

which tech giants like TikTok argue could push young people to

"darker corners of the internet".

Australia approved the social media ban for children

late on Thursday after an emotive debate that has gripped the

nation, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world

with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.

The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner

Meta Platforms ( META ) to TikTok to stop minors from logging in

or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). A trial of

enforcement methods will start in January, with the ban to take

effect in a year.

"Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the

safety of our kids is a priority for them," Australian Prime

Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday

"We're making sure that mums and dads can have that

different conversation today and in future days."

Announcing the details of the ban earlier this month,

Albanese cited the risks to physical and mental health of

children from excessive social media use, in particular the

risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image, and

misogynist content aimed at boys.

In Sydney on Friday, reaction to the ban was mixed.

"I think that's a great idea, because I found that the

social media for kids (is) not really appropriate, sometimes

they can look at something they shouldn't," said Sydney resident

Francesca Sambas.

Others were more scathing.

"I'm feeling very angry, I feel that this government has

taken democracy and thrown it out the window," said 58-year-old

Shon Klose.

"How could they possibly make up these rules and these laws

and push it upon the people?"

Children, meanwhile, said they would try to find a way

around the ban.

"I feel like I still will use it, just secretly get in,"

said 11-year-old Emma Wakefield.

WORLD FIRST

Countries including France and some U.S. states have passed

laws to restrict access for minors without a parent's

permission, but the Australian ban is absolute. A full under-14s

ban in Florida is being challenged in court on free speech

grounds.

The legislation was fast-tracked through the country's

parliament in what is the last sitting week of the year, to

criticism from social media firms and some lawmakers who say the

bill has lacked proper scrutiny. It passed through the country's

lower house of parliament on Friday morning in a procedural

hearing.

A spokesperson for TikTok, which is hugely popular with teen

users, said on Friday the process had been rushed and risked

putting children into greater danger.

"We're disappointed the Australian government has ignored

the advice of the many mental health, online safety, and youth

advocacy experts who have strongly opposed the ban," the

spokesperson said.

"It's entirely likely the ban could see young people pushed

to darker corners of the internet where no community guidelines,

safety tools, or protections exist."

Albanese said on Friday passing the bill before the age

verification trial has been completed was the correct approach.

"We are very clearly sending a message about our intentions

here," he said.

"The legislation is very clear. We don't argue that its

implementation will be perfect, just like the alcohol ban for

under 18s doesn't mean that someone under 18 never has access,

but we know that it's the right thing to do."

The ban could strain Australia's relationship with key ally

the United States, where X owner Elon Musk, a central figure in

the administration of president-elect Donald Trump, said in a

post this month it seemed a "backdoor way to control access to

the Internet by all Australians".

It also builds on an existing mood of antagonism between

Australia and mostly US-domiciled tech giants. Australia was the

first country to make social media platforms pay media outlets

royalties for sharing their content and now plans to threaten

them with fines for failing to stamp out scams.