Australia’s top political leaders doubled down on plans to ban social media access for children under 16, showing rare unity on the issue ahead of the May 3 election even as pressure from tech giants is expected to mount.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton have reaffirmed their support for Australia’s upcoming ban on social media access for children under 16, despite expected pressure from major tech companies.
During a televised election debate ahead of the May 3 national vote, both leaders expressed strong bipartisan backing for the new restrictions, set to begin in December. The law will limit under- 16s' use of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, and require tech firms to pay for hosting Australian news content.
Albanese said he anticipates lobbying efforts from social media giants as the enforcement date nears but emphasized that his government will not back down. He called the ban a "world-leading" measure.
Dutton echoed this stance, describing the opposition coalition as fully aligned with Labor on the issue. He criticized tech companies for exploiting young users and stressed the need to hold them accountable.
The debate panel declared Dutton the winner of the night’s exchange, although current polls show him trailing Albanese, with cost-of-living and housing remaining top concerns for voters.
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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Australia’s policies had encouraged antisemitism after a shooting at a Jewish celebration in Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed at least 11 people.
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The possibility of restricting social media access for children is a hot topic in the European Union and the United Kingdom, after Australia implemented a world-first ban for those under 16. Lawmakers have labelled the ban a “real-world test” of how far governments can go to protect young people.
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