Nearly two thirds of US voters back under 16 social media ban after Australia’s new law

Australia has enforced one of the world’s strictest online safety measures, barring children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms and placing responsibility squarely on technology companies.

That move has sharpened debate in the US, where a new Fox News poll finds nearly two thirds of voters supporting similar age restrictions on social media use.




Australia’s law sets global contextThe Australian Government passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, introducing a mandatory minimum age of 16 for certain platforms, with parents unable to give consent, and fines reaching about $32 million for companies that fail to comply.

Platforms affected include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, Threads, Kick and X, while services such as YouTube Kids and Messenger Kids are excluded, and UNICEF Australia says safety reforms should focus on making platforms safer and listening to young people.

Fox News poll details voter support

The Fox News survey interviewed 1,001 registered voters nationwide by landline, cellphone and online questionnaire, producing results with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.

When asked about banning social media for children under 16, 64 per cent favoured the measure and 35 per cent opposed it, a split that remained unchanged among parents.

Support for under 16 social media ban

Support varied sharply by party, with 73 per cent of Republicans backing the under 16 ban compared with 56 per cent of Democrats, according to Fox News.

The poll also found broad backing for banning cellphones in K-12 classrooms, with 69 per cent of voters in favour and 31 per cent opposed, and stronger support again among Republicans.



Views on K-12 classroom cellphone ban

The findings follow Australia’s enforcement of its age rule, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese telling students that under 16s would no longer be allowed social media accounts, Albanese said in comments carried by Fox News.

In the US, concern has intensified across parties, and senators at a recent Judiciary Committee hearing pressed experts on stronger age limits, platform accountability and possible changes to Section 230, Fox News quoted lawmakers as saying.

Fox News cited Pew Research Center findings showing nearly half of US teens view social media negatively, alongside Gallup data that more than half spend at least four hours daily, with average use rising from early to late teens, nationwide survey.Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!