Social media is harming our children and I say that now is enough, says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose party Labor has now decided on 16 years.
Children who already have popular apps or have their parents' permission to have them will not be exempt from the age limit. The government has broad support in parliament, even from the opposition, for its proposal.
On Friday, the country's state governments will be informed about the proposal, which was originally intended to come into effect this year. But it was postponed pending tests of technology that can determine a user's age.
Some apps and media platforms already have guidelines for users' ages, but it is difficult to check if they are followed and have practical significance. The Prime Minister wants to give parents support through the age limit.
I want parents to be able to say: I'm sorry, but I'm breaking the law if I let you do that.
The main responsibility is placed on the media giants. Young people under the age risk no punishment.
I'm not saying that these law changes solve the problems immediately, says Anthony Albanese.
He adds, however, that they, like age limits for alcohol, can be broken but still create norms.
