Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday that his government will pass a law to ban the use of social media for children under the age of 16, a policy that the government says is world-leading.

“Social media is harming our children and I am stopping it,” Albanese said in a press conference.

He added that legislation will be submitted to Parliament this year, with the laws entering into force 12 months after lawmakers approve them.

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Teachers say they are “exerting great effort” in responding to the effects of social media in the classroom

There will be no exceptions for users with parental consent.

“The burden will be on social media platforms to prove they are taking reasonable steps to block access,” Albanese said. “The burden will not fall on the parents or the youth.”

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Communications Minister Michele Rolland said the affected platforms would include Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok and Elon Musk’s X. She added that Alphabet’s YouTube would also likely fall within the scope of the legislation.

– Alasdair Pall reports in Sydney; Edited by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler