SEAToday.com, Melbourne - The Australian government announced on Tuesday (9/10) that it will introduce legislation this year to set a minimum age for children to access social media.

PM Anthony Albanese stated that the government will soon begin testing age verification technology to enforce the ban. While the specific age verification method has not been disclosed, the minimum age is likely to be between 14 and 16.

Many countries taking steps to protect children from the harmful effects of social media, including bullying, gambling, and cybercrimes.This Australian initiative is a response to growing concerns from parents. Australia's opposition party has also pledged to implement a social media ban for children under 16 if it wins elections due by May next year.

“This is a scourge. We know that there is mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with. The bullying that can occur online, the access to material which causes social harm, and parents are wanting a response,” Albanese added.

Meanwhile, Lisa Given, an information technology expert at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, said the government’s plan would prevent children accessing useful content as well.

“This is a very blunt instrument that’s going to potentially exclude children from some very, very helpful supports on social media.”

South Australia state has recently proposed a law that would fine social media companies that did not exclude children under the age of 14 from their platforms.