Online Reporter
Daniel Itai
Correspondent
Following Australia’s decision to impose stricter age restrictions on social media platforms, Daniel Itai discusses the relevance and feasibility of similar rules being implemented in African countries.
Last November, the Australian legislature passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which will come into effect towards the end of this year.
The new law will now prevent Australians under the age of 16 from having accounts on social media platforms, such Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X, and punish social media platforms for systemic breaches with fines of up to $49.5 million Australian dollars (US$30.5 million).
As a result, the legislation has prompted discussion about whether similar rules should be implemented in African countries.
According to Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland, the new legislation is aimed at ensuring young people are protected online.
The law followed robust consultations with parents, young people, carers and experts, who showed an overwhelming support for the Bill.
Viability of social media age restrictions in Africa
From a policy point of view, there has not been much talk about implementing age restrictions on social media platforms in Africa so far.
There are over five billion social media users across the globe, and Africa has an estimated 400 million active social media users, with only about 53 percent of those aged below 25 in Africa connected to the Internet at all. As a result, governments across Africa have not been so keen on imposing age restrictions on social media access on a continent where Internet penetration remains under 40 percent, making social media a privilege rather than a norm.
Over the past few years, social media platforms have transformed from being purely interactive to becoming business portals used as an income source for many, particularly young people in Africa.
Social media platforms are also being used for accessing information, acquiring educational resources and digital skills development.
Feasibility of stricter age restrictions
According to Brent Janse van Vuuren, MD of South African-based Social Media 101, social media is now an expansive platform that can influence the political, social and economic spectrum of any entity.
“Social media is a powerful tool for change. Young Africans are using it to drive activism, innovate, and collaborate. It’s helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses and amplifying critical social and political issues,” said Janse van Vuuren.
However, he said that although social media is having some positive impacts for young people, digital literacy is a fundamental aspect.
“Social media can absolutely help teenagers grow. It introduces them to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives, which can spark curiosity and critical thinking. That said, there’s a flip side. Overuse, cyberbullying, and harmful content can hurt their mental health and self-esteem,” he explained.
“That’s why digital literacy is so important. Teaching teens how to use social media thoughtfully and safely is key,” added Janse van Vuuren.
He also noted that like Australia, African countries should consider imposing age restrictions on social media platforms to protect the mental health of young people and better their focus and personal development.
“Social media platforms should have age-appropriate restrictions to keep younger users safe from harmful content. A good rule of thumb is restricting social media access for kids under 13,” said Janse van Vuuren.
“However, though it’s technically possible to restrict social media access using age verification and content controls, enforcing it is tough. Many teenagers use shared devices or free data bundles, which makes restrictions harder to monitor. On top of that, tech-savvy teens can easily get around restrictions with VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) or fake profiles,” he said.
Janse van Vuuren believes that partial restrictions are more realistic and effective.
Daniel is a freelance writer and African podcaster.
