Logging Off

CANBERRA, Australia—The February 5 press conference begins. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese takes questions from journalists. Lana, 11, stands up. “Do you think social media has an impact on kids?” she asks.

Albanese has been waiting for this question. It relates to his government’s most talked-about policy. Lana and the other student reporters invited to the press conference listen closely.

PRIME MINISTER Anthony Albanese is the prime minister of Australia. He took office in 2022.

“It certainly does. And that’s why we’re going to ban social media for under-16s,” Albanese replies. “I want to see you all out playing with each other at lunchtime, talking to each other like we are now, and engaging with each other.”

Albanese believes that social media is a threat to his nation’s children. He wants to do something about it. That’s why, in December, Australia will set a new age limit for users of social-media platforms. The law is the first of its kind.

RESTRICTED Under a law set to take effect in December, Australians under 16 will be barred from most social media.

What’s the Cost?

Most social-media platforms have an age limit of 13. Australia’s law will increase it to 16. And it will punish tech companies that fail to enforce it. The fines could be as much as $49.5 million Australian. (That’s about $31 million U.S.)

Social media became widely used in 2010. Among young Americans, mental health issues have risen about 150% since then (see sidebar, “Look Back: Kids Weigh In”). That trend is similar in other countries, including Australia. Albanese spoke about this with TIME during an exclusive × exclusive available to only one journalist or media source (adjective) interview. It’s “the number 1 issue that parents are talking about,” he said.

NO MORE About 80% of Australian preteens use social media, says a February report from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.

There has been opposition to the law. And not just from social-media companies. A group of 140 health experts wrote Albanese a letter to say the law won’t “address risks effectively.” There’s also debate over what should count as social media. Some gaming websites operate similarly.

Albanese says an imperfect plan is better than no plan at all. “This won’t be absolute × absolute perfect (adjective) ,” he says. “But it does send a message.”

SCHOOL TRIP Students visit Albanese’s office in Canberra, Australia, on February 5.

Global Potential

Australia’s law sets an example. In November 2024, France’s education minister said that Europe should “urgently” follow Australia’s lead. Japan and Singapore are considering similar action.

In the U.S., the Kids Off Social Media Act is moving through the Senate. It bans social media for kids under 13. It also limits its reach for those under 17. About half of U.S. states passed laws last year to make it harder for kids to be online unsupervised. And in March, Utah became the first state to require that app stores get parental consent for minors to download apps.

Jonathan Haidt is a psychology professor at New York University. If Australia’s law goes well, he says, “I think it will go global very quickly.”

Look Back: Kids Weigh In

Students today have never lived in a world where social media didn’t exist. The apps are a way to connect with family and friends. But social media also has risks. It can attract cyberbullies and trolls. They seek to anger or insult people. This can take a toll on users’ mental health.

Five years ago, we asked TIME for Kids readers if social media was good for society. Find their answers here. Do their arguments still ring true? What do you think?