Australia and Denmark restrict social media use by children

In at least two western countries, children under the age of 16 will soon be barred from using many social media sites and apps. The Australian government passed the “Online Safety Amendment Act” back in 2024 to raise the age requirement for many popular social media sites from 13 to 16 – that change is scheduled to take effect December 10 of this year. The Australian ban includes nine of the popular, time-wasting and culturally-influential apps: Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Reddit, and Kick. The government can fine companies up to $50 million (Australian) that don’t take “reasonable steps” to remove current accounts and prohibit new ones for children under 16. That’s a hefty penalty, even for these extremely profitable companies.

In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced similar restrictions in her opening speech to parliament in October of this year. Caroline Stage Olsen, Denmark’s Minister for Digital Affairs, said that 94% of Danish children under the age of 13 have profiles on at least one social medial platform. The legislation still has a few hurdles to cross before becoming law, but indicates a clear turning away from unregulated use of social media by children.

The Bible tells us that the primary responsibility for raising children is given to their parents, not to kings or princes or governments. No doubt then, that Christian parents are already seeking to guide and guard their children’s access to internet resources that can be damaging to young hearts and minds. But just like the government bans on liquor, tobacco, and pornography access for children, it does seem appropriate for the State to restrict social media use by youngsters, since, along with the very little good, there can be very much harm that comes from exposure too early to matters inappropriate for children.