Australia set to get world-first social media ban

Australia is about to ban children younger than 16 from social media under world-leading laws to be enshrined before Christmas.

The legislation is poised to pass the parliament on Friday, after the Albanese government secured the coalition's support.

The proposal cleared the Senate on Thursday night, and will be voted on in the lower house to be rubber-stamped.

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) will be the platforms captured under the ban.

Exemptions will apply for health and education services including YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom.

The ban would come into effect 12 months after the laws pass the parliament, as age verification technology trials are still being carried out by the federal government.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has said social media users won't be forced to hand over government-issued IDs including passports to verify their age.

But it's unclear how age would be confirmed without identity verification, a parliamentary committee found.

Concerns have been raised by social media companies, individuals, and human rights groups that the laws have been rushed through without proper scrutiny, with Australia the first country to implement such a ban.

Nationals senator Matt Canavan has said the definition of social media should be narrowed, and tech companies should be banned from using the data from identity documents.

The committee found while protecting children was a legitimate aim and the ban could be capable of that, it's not clear the measures would be a proportionate limit on their rights.

Human rights groups and mental health services are opposed to a total ban, warning vulnerable children could be isolated from accessing support.

Improving safety was a better approach, they have argued.

eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant has said while children needed to be protected online, marginalised kids still needed a way to connect with others.